12/9 & 12/10, 2000
Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour visited Stamford, Ct. for stop #9 of the season. Mike Flemming the new owner of Rack and Roll Billiards added $2000 and provided a great setting for the tournament. 48 Players entered and the play was nothing short of spectacular. Names like SanSouci, Immonen, Zuglan, Hernandez, Townsend, Saez and many other top 9-ballers made up the field. Saturday's matches were intense and close in almost every set. Winning all their matches were Ginky, Mika, Joey K and Scotty Townsend. On the one loss side returning Sunday would be Brian Yi vs Frankie Hernandez, Chuck Altomare vs Ted Garrahan, Robb Saez vs Paul Rota and Steve Tavernier vs Mike Zuglan. Highlighting Saturdays play was a hill hill match between Frankie Hernandez and George SanSouci. Leading the set 8-7, Hernandez seemed to be unstoppable when an untimely miscue on the 7 ball gave Ginky ball in hand to tie the set. SanSouci snapped in the 9 to win. Cashing in ht event but not returning Sunday was Andy Segal, Tom Walter, Joe Cutler and Chris Biddle.

Sunday 12 players came back to fight for the cash. Paul Rota stood strong with Mika Immonen, but the young man from Helsinki, Finland over powered Rota in the end to send him to the one loss side. Veteran road player and great guy Scotty Townsend of Alabama found out just how strong Ginky can play and lost 9-6. SanSouci and Immonen met for the first time and George won 9-7. On the one loss side of the chart. Steve Tavernier laced Mike Zuglan 9-1 only to get sent home by Paul Rota, Teddy Garrahan player wonderful pool beating Altomare, Hernandez and Korsiak. When Garrahan met up with Townsend, the veteran players from down south took of the youngster from Connecticut 9 -6. With SanSouci, Immonen and Townsend left you had to know it would a great finish. Not letting any of the large crowd down, Mika and Scotty played a great set with Immonen coming out on top 9-8. Time for Mika and Ginky to show their talents. In the final set these two guys played neck and neck going a game a piece to seven. Tied at 7-7 Ginky played a great safety that Mika had to kick at. When he made the hit and the cue ball fell into the corner pocket, Ginky took the opportunity to get out and win from there 9-7. A great tournament in a great room. We are in Torington, Ct.. this week at Connecticut Billiards for a $2000 added event.
Final results:
1.   $1700   George San Souci
2.   $1040   Mika Immonen
3.   $750   Scotty Townsend
4.   $550   Ted Garrahan
5/   $400   Paul Rota
6               Joey Korsiak
7/   $300   Frankie Hernandez
8               Steven Tavernier
9/   $200   Mike Zuglan
10             Chuck Altomare
11             Brian Yi
12             Robb Saez
13/   $100   Chris Biddle
14             Tom Walter
15             Joe Cutler
16             Andy Segal

By: Pat Murray