Once again Mike Zuglan in conjunction with the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY put together a first class 9-ball tournament. A 32 player invitational sponsored by Joss Cues Ltd. Webb custom cues, Giuseppe` Custom Cases, Cappone Cues, Carousel of Stitches, Simonis cloth and Diamond tables. Monikers like the "Iceman", "Ginky", "King James", the "Scorpion", the "Magic Man", "Kid Delicious" and of course the "Korean Dragon" where in the field along with 25 great players. The venue for the third time at this marvelous casino was second to none and the play was outstanding.

Playing on these demanding but very fair Diamond tables brought out some amazing sets. Immonen missing only two balls in a set over Basavich and winning 11-1, right after Delicious beat up on Johnny Arhcer 11-7 and then Danny lost a heart breaker to Rempe 11-10 after coming back from 10-4 making a beautiful kick from a safe to make the 3 ball and missing a very makable 4 on the hill. Archer beating Luc Salvas 11-9 after leading 10-3. Great play was the order of the day for the two day event and the players did not let anyone down and the wonderful crowds got to see some tremendous pool played. Any where from 150 fans at the early Saturday matches to the 500 that watched the finals and the fan challenge matches on Sunday

The story of the tournament had to be young Charlie Williams. Showing that his third place finish in the Joss finals at Turning Stone last May was no fluke, the young man from Orlando, Fl. played in dead stroke for all but one of his matches. Losing to Ginky on Sunday 11-7 did not detour him from his quest to win the event. Winning over Rempe 11-8 and then getting revenge on SanSouci 11-5 after SanSouci got sent to the one loss side by Mika. The "Korean Dragon" took on the "Iceman" Immonen in the finals and it was a war. Back and forth to 8 in the race to 13, Charlie had it all going, great safe play, get out when open, breaking well and in his own very deliberate way played a great set that sent the last years winner of this event home with a 2nd place trophey13-11. Charlie Williams is for real and the pool community expects great things from this 24 year old very humble man. This was a great victory in his already impressive resume and just the beginning for him.

Enough cannot be said about the Turning Stone staff and about Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. We look forward to another great season on the tour and the $50,000 added finals again at Turning Stone May 1-5, 2002.
Final results:
1.   $6000   Charlie Williams
2.   $3500   Mika Immonen
3.   $2400   George SanSouci
4.   $1800   Jim Rempe
5/   $1350   Dan Basavich
6               Jose Parica
7/   $1000   Robb Saez
8               Johnny Archer
9/   $800   Santos Sambajon
10             Ted Garrahan
11             Mike Zuglan
12             Steve Tavernier
13/   $600   Joe Tucker
14             Luc Salvas
15             Mike Xiarhos
16             Chuck Altomare

By: Pat Murray