by Jose Burgos

Mike Miller was the master at the Blaze 9-Ball Tour’s first annual New Jersey State 8-Ball Championship the weekend of July 4-5, taking home the biggest chunk of the $1,500-added prize purse. Atlantic City Billiards Club in Egg Harbor, NJ, played host to the event, drawing a field that included players such as Shaun Wilkie, Matt Krah, Derek Schwager, and Carl Khan.

Miller led the pack through the top half of the bracket, going undefeated with victories over Bob Madera 7-2, Peter Ziemak 7-3, and Eddie Muma 7-5. Wilkie winded his way through the bottom half, scoring wins over Kenny Dee 7-2, Carl Khan 7-1, Mike Fernan 7-2, and Krah 7-5.

The hot seat match between Miller and Wilkie went hill-hill, with Miller eventually winning 7-6 and sending Wilkie to the one-loss side. There he had to fight to his right to rematch against Miller by playing the young Derek Schwager. After suffering a first-round loss to Krah 7-1, Schwager fought his way back through the west side of the chart to reach the semifinals, where he ousted Wilkie 5-2 to reach the final match.

Mike Miller was the master at the Blaze 9-Ball Tour’s first annual New Jersey State 8-Ball Championship the weekend of July 4-5, taking home the biggest chunk of the $1,500-added prize purse.

Schwager had to best Miller twice in the finals to win, and it looked as though he was going to be victorious after he took the first set hill-hill. The second set also went hill-hill but with a different outcome, as Miller pulled off the win and earned the New Jersey State 8-Ball Championship.

Results:
1st Mike Miller $675
2nd Derek Schwager $400
3rd Shaun Wilkie $150
4th Carl Khan $100