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November 25 & 26, 2000. One of the most prestigious events of the year in New England the Nick Vlahos Memorial Tournament #4, was held at Accu Billiards in New Bedford, Ma. This year for the first time it was part of Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. 71 players from all over, including Zuglan, Allen Hopkins, George SanSouci, Jim Rempe, Larry Lisciotti, Frankie Hernandez, Jimmy Fusco, Women's pros Tiffany Nelson, Nicole Mancini along with many other greats, came from all over to vie for the title. $5000 mostly donated by local room owners, businesses and fans was added to the pot and Danny Janes of Joss Cues Ltd. donated two gorgeous cues to raffle. The tournament is held at different rooms across New England annually in an effort to raise a little cash for charity and to remember a great player who died much to young and was a friend to almost everyone in pool. Nick Vlahos died at 44 from a brain tumor. Proceeds this year go to the L.A.M. Foundation. (a killer disease that strikes young women and there is no cure).
With over $12,000 at stake the players came out firing from the start and there was no looking back. Saturday saw great matches like Hopkins and SanSouci going at it with Hopkins winning 9-6. TJ LaFlamme winning three in a row only to be upset by Paul Rota in a hill hill match that left Rota a winner for the day.. Steve Tavernier beat Allen Hopkins to finish off a perfect Saturday. Korean born and NYC resident, Byung Sup Yi played great all day and beat Lynn Wechsler of Rochester, NY. to remain untainted for the day. Frankie Hernandez made little work of Daren Rebello, Bill Stephen and Steve Goulding to go undefeated. Jim Rempe beat Mike Zuglan, Jimmy Fusco and Charlie Matarazzo going home unscathed for the day. Gary Empey and Joe Korsiak were also on the winners side. Coming back Sunday from the one loss side would be Tetreault vs Zuglan, Saez vs SanSouci, Giannotti vs Lisciotti and Wechsler vs Kantarevic.
With over 300 spectators in the house on an overcast then rainy Sunday, great pool would be the happening thing in New Bedford this day. With equipment that plays as good as you can get and some of the best players in the world participating, you just new it would be great and it was. Steve Tavernier of Providence, RI played wonderful 9-ball beating Hopkins and Yi only to get sent to the losers side by Rempe, who remained on tract to get to the "hot seat" also beating Rota and Empey. On the one loss side it was all Allen Hopkins, who beat Empey, Lisciotti, Hernandez and Tavernier. In the true double elimination format, the finals were set with Jim Rempe vs Allen Hopkins. These two world class players then put on a show for the fans that everyone in the house appreciated. In the first set it was all Hopkins playing incredible. Running racks, playing great shots and making some unbelievable hits to go on and win the first 9-4. In game two, this time it was all Rempe. "King James" took control early and could do no wrong. Not getting flustered after just being beaten, Rempe came back and won 9-3. Truly a great performance and a well deserved victory for the Man from Scranton, Pa.
There is no way to really thank Gail and Mike Xiarhos for all they did
for us this year. With a great facility, great food and drink and
service second to none, the Vlahos Memorial was was once a again a
success and a check for the L.A.M. foundation has been cut. Next year
we will be in Bristol Ct. for the event.
Final Results:
1. $3000 Jim Rempe
2. $2000 Allen Hopkins
3. $1200 Steve Tavernier
4. $800 Byung Sup Yi
5/ $600 Robb Saez
6
Gary Empey
7/ $450 Frankie Hernandez
8
Lynn Wechsler
9/ $300 Paul Rota
10
Mike Zuglan
11
Larry Lisciotti
12
Joey Korsiak
13/ $200 George SanSouci
14
Suad Kantarevic
15
Art Giannotti
16
Matt Tetreault
17/ $125 John Fernandes
18
Daren Rebello
19
TJ LaFlamme
20
Rich Ross
21
Chris Uhlman
22
Mike Yamauchi
23
Ed Boyle
24
Ed Abraham
By: Pat Murray