November 18 & 19, 2000. Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball tour came to Syracuse, NY for the first of four visits to the area this season. Stop number six on the tour was held at Salt City Billiards and 62 players came to play. In the field were players like Zuglan, Hernandez, Rempe, Saez, Altomare and Empey along with some great Canadian players like Paul Thornley and Harry Chaggaris. Right from the start it was a battle that would last long into the night on Saturday and go right to the wire on Sunday. I have said it before and will say it again, "Syracuse, NY and Central New York in general is a great pool area." These folks know how to play and really appreciate good pool. Going through Saturday undefeated were, Frankie Hernandez vs Hary Chaggaris and Paul Thornley vs Mike Zuglan. On the one loss side we had Gerry Phillips vs Robb Saez, Matt Tetreault vs John Hoey, Jim Rempe vs Rey Rendon and Chuck Altomare vs Mike Wallace. Just missing coming back Sunday but cashing in the event was John Ferrara, Dan Kolacz, Gary Empey and Jerry Crowe. Keep an eye on Jerry Crowe from Bath, NY. This young man has a lot of talent and a great stroke. Look for him in the finals of a lot more tournaments.

Sunday was like almost every finals day on the Joss tour. Great play, hill hill matches and just a pleasure to watch. Harry Chaggaris from Scarboroug, Ont. showed his amazing stroke all weekend long. He beat Frankie Hernandez, Mike Wallace and Jim Rempe. The only person he could not get through was Mike Zuglan. Zuglan playing a lot like the player he really is, went through Ryan McCreesh, Steve Countryman, Jim Rempe, John Hoey, Paul Thornley and Chaggaris to get to the hot seat. On the one loss side Robb Saez won two matches before falling to Frankie Hernandez and Jim Rempe had to beat, Jim Forsythe, Jerry Crowe, Rey Rendon. Chuck Altomare, Paul Thornley and Frankie Hernandez to play Harry Chaggaris for a chance to meet Zuglan in the finals. Chaggaris took on Rempe and flat out beat him. I did not see him miss a ball against "King James" and he won 9-4. Harry continues this great play right into the finals. Breaking first in the set he broke and ran the first two racks. On rack number three he had to push out,Zuglan refused the shot and Chaggaris made a cut on the one ball you had to see to believe,he ran two more racks and it ws now 4-0. On the next break nothing fell and before you knew what was happening it ws 5-4 Zuglan. Chaggaris made it 6-6 when Zuglan made a great combo on the nine and run out the set winning the tournament undefeated. Watching Mike Zuglan and Harry Chaggaris play was a true pleasure and there were over 100 fans there to enjoy it.

Congratulations to Salt City, owners Joe and Judy and their family and staff. It was a good tournament, great equipment, great food and the fans were tremendous.
Final Results:
1.  $1600  Mike Zuglan
2.  $1000  Harry Chaggaris
3.   $750   Jim Rempe
4.   $550   Frankie Hernandez
5/   $400   Robb Saez
6               Paul Thornley
7/   $270   Matt Tetreault
8               Chuck Altomare
9/   $180   Gerry Phillips
10             John Hoey
11             Ray Rendon
12             Mike Wallace
13/ $125   Jerry Crowe
14             John Ferrara
15             Dan Kolacz
16             Gary Empey

By: Pat Murray