Heal goes undefeated to take Tri-State stop at Gotham City Billiards

Chris Luethi, Trevor Heal and Teddy Lubis

Trevor Heal, ranked third among the Tri-State Tour's B+ class players, won just shy of 60% of the games he played on his way to an undefeated day on the Tri-State Tour on Sunday November 7.  The $750-added B-D handicapped event drew 26 entrants to Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.

Heal opened his campaign with a 7-4 victory over Duane Toney, and followed it with victories over James Rodriguez 10-8, and Joe Diamond 8-5, which moved him among the winners' side final four for a match versus Antonio Navarro. Teddy Lubis, in the meantime, squared off against Raphael Dabreo. It was Heal and Lubis battling for the hot seat, following Lubis' 7-2 victory over DaBreo and Heal's 8-4 defeat of Navarro.  Heal gained the hot seat, and, as it turned out, the event victory with a double hill win over Lubis.

On the one-loss side, Billy Cheng, after victories over Yomaylin Feliz 7-3 and Joe Diamond 8-7, was waiting for DaBreo. Navarro picked up Chris Luethi, who'd gotten by Frankie Ramos 7-6 and Alan Chan 7-5.  DaBreo and Navarro had brief visits to the left bracket, as Cheng downed DaBreo 7-3, and Luethi advanced 8-7 over Navarro. Luethi won the quarterfinal that followed 7-5, but failed to survive the next 7-6, semifinal battle against Lubis.  That double hill battle took its toll on Lubis, who conceded the event victory to Heal.

Tour representatives extended thanks to the owners of Gotham City Billiards – Kevin and Isabel Buckley – for their generous support of the players and the quality playing conditions of their room. Thanks were extended, as well, to tour sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Viking Cues, Ron Tarr Cues, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Dr. Dave Billiards Instructional Products.