Strickland Victorious on Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour Championships

Strickland Victorious on Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour Championships By InsidePOOL StaffIn a true double-elimination finals, Earl Strickland beat the odds and defeated Shawn “The Love Sponge” Putnam to take top honors at the Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour Championships, which began last Wednesday and concluded Sunday, November 23, 2003.In the first set, Strickland, a many-time World Champion and U.S. Open Champion, took a 4-1 lead, but Putnam fought back to catch and surpass “The Pearl” by bringing the score to 5-4. It looked as if things were falling into place for Putnam, who was playing smoothly and had a huge break, but the two traded games until the score knotted at 7. At that point, a few key missed on Putnam’s behalf gave the hill to Strickland with Putnam still at 7. With a 6-9 combo and some nice play, Putnam tied on the hill with Strickland, but the last heartbreaking rack, Putnam rattled the 1 ball in the side pocket, and Strickland was out, winning the first set 11-10.
The second set was discouraging for the Putnam fans in the audience. Although he hung in there at first with Strickland, coming within a game of tying when the score was 5-4, his play seemed off and the balls didn’t seem to do what he expected them to. Strickland down the next three games to make it 8-4 before Putnam got another chance – with a foul by his opponent, Putnam ran out that rack and won the following as well. But that would be his last, for Strickland proved too strong, and “The Pearl” won the last three games in a row to win the second set and the title 11-6.Results:1st Earl Strickland $5,0002nd Shawn Putnam $3,5003rd Marco Marquez $2,5004th Chris Szuter $2,0005th Will Slone, Justin Daniels $1,5007th Marty Lawson, Shannon Daulton $1,0009th Gabe Owen, Danny Basavich, Danny Medina, Robert Chaperon $57513th Fred Lane, Jose Parica, Leil Gay, Tony Mougey $375Visit InsidePOOL for the latest in the sport of billiards and pool.

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