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May 3 - 6, 2001.
When Mike Zuglan brought his Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour to the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY on May 3, 2001, it looked like a meeting of the "Greatest Players on the Planet " meeting. Archer, Strickland, Reyes, Hopkins, Bustamante, Parica, Hall, Varner, Corr, SanSouci, Rempe, Deuel, Pagulayan, Martel, Salvas, just to name a few. Players from all over the world made up the 128 player chart. Hall of Fame member to WPBA stars. World
champions to local players battling for their share of the over $83,000 purse. Playing under conditions that rivaled the greatest tournaments of all times, these great players battled for every game and every match. With 34 hill hill matches and just as many 11-10, 11-9 sets, there was nothing but excitement for four days at Turning Stone. Matches like Rempe Vs Parica that lasted almost three hours. Rempe missed four shots in 19 games, Parica missed two. Kicks and safeties that you had to see to believe. One of the greatest sets I have seen in a long time found Rempe winning 11-8. All the four days were filled with this kind of action. One miss, one foul and it was all over
for some of these great players. Playing on very tight and demanding Diamond tables with Simonis cloth made this a true test of great pool. In a room with 32 chandeliers and beautifully carpeted floors the hundreds of fans got to
see some of the greatest play they may ever see. All the seating was perfect for viewing and with no admission charge it was really accessible to all pool fans. The central New York State area has always been a true hub for pool and the fans showed it with appreciation for all of the players. True sportsmanship and generous ovations filled the arena for every match. The Turning Stone Casino staff could not be more hospitable doing the little
things like bringing hand towels to all the matches, bottled water available to all the players at no charge, controlling the air conditioning to keep the humidity out, almost everything to allow these players to show their incredible talents to all of us.
The competition was so intense at time you could hear a pin drop as players scratched and clawed to get wins. Upsets like Strickland not making the cash generated whispers and excitement through out the tournament. Great play from players like Charlie Williams and Niels Feijen got the attention of those who were not familiar with these two great players game. Incredible play by Francisco Bustamante beating Reyes the first time they met 11-4. In a match between Howard Vickery and Jose Parica the score was 10-10 with Vickery shooting, when a misjudgment in the speed helped the cue fall in the side pocket and allow Parica to go on and Vickery go home. In another match at the same time Dan (Kid Delicious) was hill hill against local player Van Khattingavong when Dan made and incredible bank on the nine only to see the cue ball run 3 rails and scratch in the corner. When Johnny Archer met up with Buddy Hall on Saturday night everyone knew they were in for a treat in this match. Scrapping for every inch of turf these two great players battled to an 11-9 score with Archer coming out on top. Archer then met up with Troy Frank the next day and won 11-4. After all this work he had to face Efren Reyes and the Magician played wonderful 9-ball and sent Archer packing 11-4 also. In the mean time Jon "The Arrow" Kucharo was matched up against Jim Rempe and this quiet unassuming player from Iowa played like a master and sent "King James" to the cashiers cage to collect his $3250 for a respectable 5/6 finish. It was now time for Reyes Vs Kucharo and again Efren was almost unstoppable and won going away 11-3 and giving Kucharo a nice 4th and a great tournament. Bustamante played Williams for the winners side of the chart and what a dog fight this was. Charlie Williams played great all week and there was to be nothing different about this match. Back and forth all match long until Django took charge at 9-9 and sent the Korean Dragon to meet up with Reyes for a chance at the finals. Once again Williams would play beautifully and take charge of the contest. Getting ahead 8-3 all Williams had to do was keep Efren from the table, not exactly the easiest thing to do against one of the greatest players who ever played. Almost like someone turned a switch, the matched evened out at 9-9. Reyes won the tenth game and Williams made it hill hill again. Breaking, Charlie made a ball and began his quest to upset Efren. When Williams got out of line on the four he had to play safe. Leaving Reyes with just an edge of the ball in sight turned out to be just enough for the Magician to run out and win.
In the finals, Bustamante took charge right away in the race to 13. Leading 5-2 Reyes started once again to come back and they battled to 12-11 Bustamante's favor. Reyes breaking he made a ball and was as straight on the one as you can get with the two at the other end of the table. Trying to spin the cue he made the one but ended up behind another ball blocking the two. Kicking like only he can Reyes just missed the two and Django got back to the table. He had to play safe and did but Reyes made the two, three and four. Coming of the rail after making the four he hid himself again and could only just hit the five. Francisco was rewarded with an open table and an easy shot on the five. Less than a minute later we had a Champion. On hand to present the trophies and the money was Mike Zuglan and the main sponsor of the tour Mr. Dan Janes of Joss Cues LTD.
Words seem almost inadequate in describing this wonderful event. All of Mike Zuglan's work was well worth it and appreciated by every one. The Turning Stone Casino deserves a big hand too for all their tireless efforts in making everyone comfortable. I heard not one complaint and nothing but compliments from every player and many many fans. We on Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour look forward to returning next year for the finals and the casino people have made it clear that we will be there to do it. Turning Stone has asked Zuglan to promote another invitational tournament there again this August 18 & 19, 2001. It is to be a 32 player field with $20,400 added event. We look forward to being there and again you can expect the best pool you can see in one of the greatest venues in pool
Final Standings:
1. $15,500 Francisco Bustamante
2. $9,200 Efren Reyes
3. $6,500 Charlie Williams
4. $4,500 Jon Kucharo
5/ $3,250 Jim Rempe
6 Johnny Archer
7/ $2,500 Jose Parica
8
Troy Frank
9/ $2,000 Howard Vickery
10
Nick Varner
11
Buddy Hall
12
Santos Sambajon
13/ $1,500 Corey Deuel
14
Van Khattignavong
15
Alex Pagulayan
16
Alain Martel
17/ $1000 Frank Hernandez
18
George San Souci
19
Rudolfo Luat
20
Robb Saez
21
Lyn Wechsler
22
Niels Feijen
23
Mike Zuglan
24
Allen Hopkins
25/ $750 Chuck Altomare
26
Kwa Nguyen
27
Kim Davenport
28
Jay Stevens
29
Danny Basavich
30
Steve Knight
31
Ronnie Wiseman
32
Mika Immonen
33/ $500 Larry Lisciotti
34
Ryan McCreesh
35
Milt Lewis
36
John Horsfall
37
Hunter Lombardo
38
Marcus Chamat
39
Steve Lillis
40
Bill Lanna
41
Ismael Paez
42
Jeff Kennedy
43
Jeff White
44
Marty Herman
45
Karen Corr
46
Ernesto Dominguez
47
Tommy Kennedy
48
Sly Vanchiro
By: Pat Murray