December 2 & 3, 2000. Syracuse, N.Y.
Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour returned to Syracuse for the second of four visits in this season's schedule. Michelle's Billiards Cafe played host for this tournament and what a great job they did. 48 Players signed up and Ed and Michelle Allen added $1500 to the purse. Saturday was nothing short of amazing. Right off the bat we had matches like Mike Zuglan vs Larry Lisciotti. Zuglan prevailed only to meet up with a 14 year old from Rochester, NY. Shane Winters the youngest person to ever enter a Joss northeast event, came out firing on the veteran player and promoter. Playing beautiful pool with a stroke that many long time players would envy, Winters took no prisoners. Before Zuglan knew it he was down 7-2 and had a very slim chance of coming back. After Mike made it 7-3 he broke and nothing fell. Shane played a beautiful safe locking up Zuglan. When he missed the hit, Winters got back to the table and ran out. Winning the set 9-3. Only playing the game for a year and a half, this "kid" from Rochester, N.Y. is going to be something very special. And with the total support of his parents, you know he is going places. Imagine 14. beating Mike Zuglan and many others to finish in the money in your first ever open pro event!!! Another pleasant suprise was owner Michelle Allen going to the hill in her first match only to lose to a really lucky roll and then getting to seven in her second match against Joe Wysocki. On the winners side at the end of the day we had Ryan McCreesh vs Dan Smith and Dick Cappotto vs Rob Saez. Over on the one loss side coming back Sunday was Jim Forsythe vs Gary Empey, David Grau vs Pat Howey, Shane Winters vs Chuck Altomare and Tim Parisian vs Paul Thornley.

Sunday was as exciting as Saturday and play started right out with Robbie Saez taking Cappotto and Ryan McCreesh getting to Dan Smith. Chuck Altomare took off the youngster by putting a 4 pack on him. After the match Chuck, five time winner on the Joss tour, said " Shane plays great, he's definitely a future world champ" Paul Thornley and Gary Empey won their matches. Altomare then beat Thornley in a great match and Dan Smith got the best of Empey. Dan Smith then bested Altomare. Ryan McCreesh beat Saez after trailing 8-6. In the next game Robbie played safe on the one and Ryan kicked the cue ball two rails made the one and ran out the table. On the hill, McCreesh made a great out from the break to win. After losing his set to Ryan, Robbie wasted no time in going through Smith to win the losers side and meet up with McCreesh in the finals. Saez playing like a man on a mission, took the first set 9-4 with relative ease. In the second of the true double elimination format, Robb Saez again jumped out in front early, but this time McCreesh got back into it and they tied at 5. In the next game there were at least 6 safeties played with Saez winning the battle and eventually the war 9-7 This is Robb Saez's second win this year and we expect a lot more from him.

Besides being a nice room to hold a tournament in, Michelle's is just a great place to play. The people on the staff, Heather, Keri and Joe made the weekend really nice for us. That and best Macaroni salad on the tour along with just great Syracuse fans made this weekend a great success, Thanks to all, we really appreciated the hospitality'
Final standings:
1.   $1500   Robb Saez
2.   $900   Ryan McCreesh
3.   $700   Dan Smith
4.   $500   Chuck Altomare
5/   $335   Gary Empey
6               Dick Cappotto
7/   $235   Paul Thornley
8               David Grau
9/   $150   Shane Winters
10             Jim Forsythe
11             Pat Howey
12             Tim Parisian

By: Pat Murray