Jeff White, Biran Belobradic, Alain Martel

Results:

1. Alain Martel
2. Jeff White
3. Andrew Attard
4. Danny Hewitt
5/6. Shannon Ducharme
5/6. Harold Rousseau

Even though the weather wasn't great for traveling 50 players still made it out to Raxx in Kingston to compete in the annual Limestone City Classic. With added money and big name players from Ontario, Quebec, Winnipeg and New York this has always been a popular event. Many compliments to Brian and Karen who are instrumental in the success of this event!

The draw matched up young guns with seasoned veterans and there were plenty of both in the field. It was apparent from the opening match there would be no easy draws and even the best of the best would have to battle hard to get a taste of the cheddar. As play moved through Saturday some great players were sent packing, whether on the losing side of a tough match or an unlikely upset the end result is the same, a free ride to the C-side. Saturday would end with an incredible match, it was two of our young players Jason Klatt of Winnipeg vs. Eric Hildebrand of Toronto. The winner would come back Sunday. Paul Thornley said "I wish I had the match on tape, they kicked, and kicked safe back and forth like the top Phillipino players". This hill-hill thriller ended with Hildebrand making the last 9-ball to cap off a true classic match.

Sunday it would be those seasoned veterans that would quiet the noise about the young sharp shooters, they would have their day. Martel played steady and fought all the way to the final through the B-side after being sent there by Andrew Attard in another 9-8 match full of excitement on Saturday night!

As Sunday moved along the final match on the A-side would lock up Jeff White and Andrew Attard. This match was no disappointment as they battled to 8-8. It would be White grasping that final game to secure second place and send Attard to the b-side. Fresh off a match that could have gone either way Attard would wait to be matched up with the winner of Danny Hewitt and Alain Martel. It would be Martel that would get his chance against Attard again and this time find himself on the winning end of the match moving him to a single race to 11 final against the undefeated Jeff White.

Jeff White and Alain Martel are two very recognizable names in Canadian Cue sports today. Unlike these kids in their late teens and early twenties this match could have been just as likely to happen ten years ago. Jeff and Alain didn’t disappoint the crowd that stuck around to see the final match as they battled to an 11-9 finish. It would be Martel that was able to regroup from his loss Saturday night and go undefeated Sunday to take the 2007 Limestone City Classic Title.

Congratulations to my good friends Jeff White and Andrew Attard for their 2nd and 3rd finishes!!

Many thanks to Andrew Attard for his great reporting and excellent pictures!!!