Carl Yusuf Khan, known as The Warrior, started the year off in January with a victory on the Tri-State Tour. He followed that up in late February with a second place finish on the Predator Tour. On the weekend of August 8-9, he added a Predator title to that list, going undefeated to take the Amateur side of the Predator Tour stop. The $500-added event drew 70 entrants to Steinway Billiards, in Astoria (Queens), NY.
Roberto Gomez, who placed second to Jayson Shaw about a month ago, came from the loss side to defeat Jorge Rodriguez in the finals of the $500-added Open/Pro event that drew 14 entrants.
Gomez was sent to the loss side by Zion Zvi, who advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Lee Kang, while Jorge Rodriguez squared off against Earl Strickland. . Rodriguez and Zvi defeated Strickland and Kang, both 7-5 and met in the hot seat match. Rodriguez survived the double hill match, sending Zvi to the semifinals.
On the loss side, Gomez defeated Sean Morgan 7-5 and Mhet Vergara 7-2 to pick up Strickland. Kang drew Frankie Hernandez, who'd gotten by Jeremy Sossei, double hill, and Sebastien Pauchon 7-1. Kang moved into the quarterfinals with a 7-2 win over Hernandez, and was joined by Gomez, who'd ousted Strickland 7-4.
Gomez defeated Kang 7-5 in the quarterfinals, and then locked Zion Zvi up in his second straight double hill battle with the same result. Gomez got a shot at Rodriguez and took full advantage, claiming the event title with a 9-7 win.
In the Amateur event, Khan got into the hot seat, after first sending Tony Liang to the loss side 7-4. Marvin Thisitkraiyakorn, in the meantime, defeated Chickie Romero in the other winners' side semifinal. The Warrior claimed the hot seat 8-6.
On the loss side, Romero met up with Tommy Schreiber, who'd gotten by Jim Gutierrez 7-5 and Paulo Valverde 7-6. Liang drew Annie Flores, who'd been awarded a forfeit and defeated Raphael Dabreo 8-6. Romero and Laing advanced to the quarterfinals; Romero, in a double hill fight against Schreiber and Liang 7-4 over Flores.
Liang took the quarterfinal match 8-7 over Romero, and then defeated Thisitkraiyakorn 10-8 in the semifinals, for a shot at Rodriguez in the hot seat. To no avail, as the Warrior gave up only two racks and claimed the event title 7-2.
