Bob Strachan breathed a huge sigh of relief after sinking the eight ball in his final game to lead his team to victory yesterday at the Olympic Oval.
“The adrenaline was pumping,” said Strachan, who beat Norm Doucette 10-5 to help lead Mojo to a 155-153 win over Bad Company. “I was just telling myself, ‘Don’t mess this up.’ It could have gone either way.”
Normally the site for top-notch speed skating competitions, the Oval has been transformed into a giant pool hall for a series of competitions hosted by SML Entertainment from April 1-18.
SML League co-ordinator Barb Carr said the annual event attracts pool players of all skill levels and competitors at the Masters level take it extremely seriously.
“It’s high intensity,” she said.
With the victory in the Masters A team final, Strachan and his teammates Mark Downey, Andy Chou, Daniel Leung and Jordan Rothermel won a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the World Amateur 8-Ball Championships next month.
Although his team lost, Kevin Osborn pulled off an extremely rare feat known as a 50-zip, which involved him winning all five of his games 10-0.
“At this calibre, it’s rare to win five games with the other guy not shooting,” said Osborn after running the table in his final game against Rothermel, who had also been perfect through his first four games. “We came up a little short so it’s bittersweet.”
