Steve Mack, Ryan Lineham, Lance Lisciotti, Brent Boemmels and Mike Mathieu (Ship The Cash)
Racks Billiards in Vernon, Ct was the place over the weekend of December 18th – 19th for the Lisciotti Cup 2021, a Mosconi Cup’ish team event to honor the memory of the late great Larry Lisciotti.
Larry’s son, Lance Lisciotti, returned as the reigning team captain and he took turns “drafting” players against challenging team captain Eric Tang, building what they each hoped would be winning five player team. While the event format was similar to Mosconi Cup in the idea of matches seeing teams, singles and doubles facing off for overall points, one big difference in this event from the Mosconi Cup was the inclusion of different games, with the Lisciotti Cup seeing competition in 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball.
With team selections complete, Team Tang consisted of Lukas Fracasso-Verner, Matt Tetreault, Ryan Cullen, Alex Bausch and Tang. Team Lisciotti was made up of Ryan Lineham, Steve Mack, Brent Boemmels, Robert Piersa and Lisciotti. At the last minute, Team Lisciotti found their top pick, Piersa, would be unable to compete in the event. They quickly found Mike Mathieu ready to step in and play, and what a great decision that turned out to be.
The first match of the day was the team event and Team Lisciotti found themselves trailing 4-0 in the race to five format. In stepped Mathieu to get his team on the board at 4-1, and that was all his team needed to find their groove and win the next four racks to steal the first point of the event.
Mathieu then teamed up with Lineham to defeat Fracasso-Verner and Cullen for a 2-0 Team Lisciotti lead. The two teams traded the next three matches with Tetreault and Cullen winning singles matches for Team Tang, and Mack & Lisciotti winning a scotch doubles match.
The final match of the day was Mathieu & Boemmels teaming up against Fracasso-Verner & Tang. Team Tang led this match 4-0, and looked to be on their way to a match win and overall tie score to end day one. That was until Mathieu showed his stuff again. He rallied he and Boemmels to a 5-4 win and an overall 4-2 lead to close out the day.
Fracasso-Verner kicked off day two with a win over Lisciotti to get his team back within one at 4-3, but Lineham & Lisciotti scored a hill-hill win over Tetreault & Cullen to stretch the lead back to two at 5-3. Tang got a win over Mack and the deficit was one point again, before Mack & Boemmels earned a hill-hill victory over Bausch & Tang.
That double win left Team Lisciotti on the hill at 6-4 and it was only fitting that they brought in their anchor for the next match. Mathieu scored a 5-2 win over Bausch with an amazing two rail kick/carom to pocket the final 10-ball for his team.
You can check out the final shot in this video.
To no one’s surprise, Mathieu was named the unanimous MVP for the event.
The event was streamed online by Ship The Cash, and can be viewed on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/shipthecashpool/videos/
Jia Li, Kevin West and Annie Flores (Photos courtesy of Erwin Dionisio)
Day two is complete at the Turning Stone Classic XXXI, and what day one might have lacked in surprising results, day two more than made up for.
One player who has drawn her share of attention is Jia Li (top). Li opened her day with a match against Sean Morgan that saw her race to an early lead. At 7-0 though, the wheels seemed to come off and Morgan won seven racks of his own to tie things at 7-7. Li dug down from there and won the next two games for the 9-7 win. There was no problems at all in Li's late match, as she ran over Eric Cloutier 9-2. She will face Tommy Tokoph on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh off of her win last weekend in the NAPL championship, Annie Flores (bottom right) is proving that she belongs here. Flores won a hill-hill battle over The Queen of the Hill Loree Jon Hasson in her early match, but fell to Canadian champion Erik Hjorleifson in her evening match. Flores will either face Hendrick Drost or Brent Boemmels in an Afternoon match.
Kevin West (bottom left) started her tournament on Thursday with 9-2 win over Paul Dryden, but he looked to a tougher hill to climb on Friday when he faced World Champion Thorsten Hohmann. It turned out that match wasn't a problem at all for West, as he cruised over Hohmann 9-4. West then finished off his Friday with a 9-5 win over Jay Goyer. West will face Zion Zvi (fresh off sending Johnny Archer to the one loss side) on Saturday.
AzBilliards has online brackets and real time scoring for the duration of the event, and Upstate Al is streaming the event on Facebook. All of the links are available on our live page.
Congratulations to our Turning Stone Classic XXX 9-Ball Open Champion, Shane Van Boening ($8,000), & our second chance winner Brent Boemmels ($500). Also, to both of our $1,200 custom, engraved Joss Cue raffle winners, Jean Therrialut & Marcus Noe as well as our autographed Aramith Pro Cup cue ball used in the final match winner John Ross.
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour will kick off it's 22nd continuous regular season events on September 22 & 23 with "The Main Event XII" at TJ's Classic Billiards in beautiful Waterville Maine. TJ's owners Steve Reynolds and Steve Claude are most deserving of our thanks for not only adding $2,000 to the event, but also allowing us the use of their beautiful room for the weekend. Why not show your thanks by coming to TJ's to participate in or just watch this great event, and also take a chance at winning a beautiful custom, engraved, collectible Joss Cue valued at $1,500! You don't even need to be present to win!! Also while at TJ's you can enjoy some great home cooked specials and a beer or two if you like. You could even make this a mini vacation as it will be approaching optimum leaf viewing season up here. For additional info about TJ's please call them at 207-877-7665, and check out TJ's Classic Billiards on Facebook.
TJ's has arranged a special rate of $89 (while they last) at Best Western just up the Interstate at 25 Main St, Waterville Me 04901, 207-873-0111. Make sure to mention the pool tournament at TJs to get this special rate. Also, there are 2 motels just down the street from TJ's. Budget Host Airport Inn, 207-873-3366 and Hampton Inn Waterville, 207-873-0400.
This event at TJ's will consist of a $1500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry fee $120 for pro level – I will decide – or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added second chance event on Sunday ($20 entry fee) only for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. Please note that all of our billiard room events will now be double elimination, races to 9 on the winners side and races to 7 on the one loss side! All of our events are open to all players in good standing.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday September 22 BEFORE 11:30 AM in proper dress of NO T-shirts & NO shorts or sweat clothes please. Jeans, sneakers and a shirt with a collar works just fine at all of our billiard parlor events! If coming to watch, play will begin after sign in on Saturday and promptly at 11am on Sunday.
For our complete Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour schedule, results and other pertinent tour info, please go to www.joss9balltour.com
Our third "Joss Junior 9-Ball Championship" will be played at Sharp Shooters Billiards & Sports Pub in Amsterdam NY on Jan. 26 & 27, 2019. There will be an 18 & under division and a 12 and under division. Please contact Mike Zuglan regarding entry and more details. 518-356-7163.
Our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXI 9-Ball Open on January 10-13, 2019 is fast approaching and will fill to capacity before you know it. If you would like to compete in this BCA ranking event, NOW is the time to enter to avoid being shut out! Our last TS event saw 36 players shut out! To enter you must contact me at 518-356-7163 or see me at any of our events Before the event is full. I have been actively collecting entries since our last Turning Stone event so I strongly urge everyone to act now!!
Please remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the world class products of our most generous sponsors. They are the backbone of our sport and deserve our support!! Thank you & I will see you all at TJ's, Mike Zuglan
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
Congratulations to our Turning Stone Classic XXVIII 9-Ball Open Champion, Shane Van Boening ($8,000), & our second chance winner Brent Boemmels ($400). Also, our custom, engraved Joss Cue raffle winners Raphael Balverde ($1,500 Joss Cue) & Bob Stickles ($1,200 Joss Cue) as well as our autographed Aramith Pro Cup cue ball used in the final match winner Al (sorry Al, I lost the ticket with the full name).
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour will kick off it's 21th continuous regular season events September 23 & 24 with "The Main Event XI" at TJ's Classic Billiards in beautiful Waterville Maine. TJ's owner Steve Reynolds is most deserving of our thanks for not only adding $2,000 to the event, but also allowing us the use of his beautiful room for the weekend. Why not show your thanks by coming to TJ's to participate in or just watch this great event, and also take a chance at winning a beautiful custom, engraved, collectible Joss Cue valued at $1,200! You don't even need to be present to win!! Also while at TJ's you can enjoy some great home cooked specials and a beer or two if you like. You could even make this a mini vacation as it will be approaching optimum leaf viewing season up here. For additional info about TJ's or for nearby motel info please call them at 207-877-7665, and check out TJ's Classic Billiards on Facebook.
The $1,200 custom engraved Joss raffle cue may be seen here: https://josscues.com/cues/custom/joss-custom-26/
FYI, I previously emailed all of you about 2 motels just down the street from TJ's. Budget Host Airport Inn, $75.95, 207-873-3366 and Hampton Inn Waterville, (special rate $149.95 expired-but try anyway) 207-873-0400. Mention TJ's Classic Billiards.
This event at TJ's will consist of a $1500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry fee $120 for pro level – I will decide – or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added second chance event on Sunday ($20 entry fee) only for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. All of our events are open to all players in good standing.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday September 23 BEFORE 11:30 AM in proper dress of NO T-shirts & NO shorts or sweat clothes please. Jeans, sneakers and a shirt with a collar works just fine at all of our billiard parlor events! If coming to watch, play will begin after sign in on Saturday and at 11am on Sunday.
For our complete Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour schedule, results and other pertinent tour info, please go to www.joss9balltour.com
Our second "Joss Junior 9-Ball Championship" will be played at Sharp Shooters Billiards & Sports Pub in Amsterdam NY on Oct 21 & 22. There will be an 18 & under division and a 12 and under division. Please contact Mike Zuglan regarding entry and more details. 518-356-7163.
Please note that our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XIX 9-Ball Open (January 4-7, 2018) is fast approaching and will fill to capacity before you know it. If you would like to compete in this BCA, WPA & Official Mosconi Cup Team USA ranking event, NOW is the time to enter to avoid being shut out! To enter you must contact me at 518-356-7163 or see me at any of our events Before the event is full. I have been actively collecting entries since our last Turning Stone event so I strongly urge everyone to act now!!
Please remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the world class products of our most generous sponsors. They are the backbone of our sport and deserve our support!! Thank you & I will see you all at TJ's, Mike Zuglan
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
Kerry McAuliffe, Jayson Shaw, Eklent Kaci, Regina and Steve Goulding
Eklent Kaci pulled off a feat that not many players can stake claim to these days. At the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop at Snookers Billiards in Providence, RI on June 3rd – 4th, Kaci defeated Jayson Shaw not once, but twice.
Shaw and Kaci looked to be the cream of the crop, in the 65 player field, and they didn’t disappoint as they cruised through the winner’s side (with neither player losing more than 4 racks in a match) to meet up in the semi-finals on Sunday. That match went to Shaw 9-5.
Shaw then went on to take the hot-seat with a 9-3 win over Nelson Oliveira, but Kaci wasn’t done with Shaw yet on this day. On the left side of the board, Kaci eliminated Bruce Nagle 9-3, Ron Casanzio 9-6 and Oliveira 9-4 to earn a rematch with Shaw in the finals.
While most fans of the game know how rare it is to see Shaw lose a match in the finals, Kaci did the unthinkable and double dipped Shaw 9-7 in both sets of the finals.
“It was scary in the finals” Shaw said after the matches. “Anything he did in the match turned out perfect” he continued.
The 24 player second chance tournament on Sunday also saw a double dip in the finals, as Kerry McAuliffe bounced back from a 3-2 hot-seat loss to Brent Boemmels and scored back to back wins in the double elimination finals for first place.
The event at Snooker’s is the regular season finale for the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour, and their final stop of the season is the Turning Stone Classic XXVIII at the Turning Stone Casino on August 31st – September 3rd. The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will begin their 22nd season in September.
Adam Devoe (room owner), Bucky Souvanthong, Bruce Nagle and Mike Zuglan
Last week's quarterfinal match on the Joss Northeast Open 9-Ball Tour (stop #12) turned into this past week's finals (stop #13), as Bruce Nagle completed an undefeated run through a field of 39 entrants, defeating Bucky Souvanthong in the finals, to claim the title. The $1,500-added event ($500-added to Second Chance tournament), held on the weekend of March 18-19, was hosted by King Smiley Billiards in Fort Edward, NY.
Nagle and Souvanthong advanced through the bracket to the winners' side semifinals. Nagle made it out of them, Souvanthong did not. Nagle sent Nick Brucato to the loss side 9-2, as Steve Lillis downed Souvanthong, double hill. Nagle claimed the hot seat 9-5 over Lillis and waited for Souvanthong to complete a three-match, loss-side trip.
On the loss side, Souvanthong picked up Noah Wells, who, after being awarded a bye, was defeated by Brucato in the event's second round, and was in the midst of a five-match, loss-side winning streak that was about to end. Wells had most recently downed Fred Gokey and Dave LeBrun, both 9-5. Brucato drew a re-match against Brent Boemmels, whom he'd defeated on the winners' side, just after sending Wells over. Boemmels was in the midst of a four-match, loss-side winning streak, having recently defeated Ben Werblow, double hill, and Dave Fernandez 9-5.
Souvanthong and Boemmels advanced to the quarterfinals; Boemells successfully wreaking his vengeance on Brucato, in a tightly contested match, 9-7, and Souvanthong sending Wells home 9-4. Souvanthong then defeated Boemmels 9-6 and Lillis, in the semifinals, 9-5.
In the finals, Souvanthong chalked up more racks against Nagle than any of Nagle's previous opponents, but it wasn't enough. Nagle hung on to complete his undefeated run 9-6, and though he's chalked up two wins on Second Chance tournaments on this year's tour (2016-2017), according to our records, this was his first Joss Tour main event win.
In the $500-added Second Chance Tournament, which drew 20 entrants, Frank Sorriento, who was runner-up in the March 11-12 Second Chance Tournament, won five on the loss side, to challenge and eventually double-dip hot seat occupant Dave LeBrun. Sorriento had survived a double hill battle versus Mike Shoemaker in the 5/6 matches, and over the next four matches, including the double set final gave up only one rack; to Mike Verducci in the semifinals. He finished with two shutouts over LeBrun.
In addition to the prize winners in both events, David Dumas was the raffle winner of a $1,500 Joss Cue. Players are reminded that the site for the next stop on the tour (#14), scheduled for April 8-9, has been changed from Salt City Billiards in Syracuse to Hippo's House of Billiards in Utica. Salt City Billiards was destroyed in an early morning fire last month (Feb. 8). No one was injured in the blaze, and though owners are optimistic about rebuilding, no final decisions have been made.
Joss Tour director Mike Zuglan is continuing to remind players that entries for Turning Stone XXVIII, scheduled for Aug. 31- Sept 3 are filling up fast, with nearly three-quarters of the field already registered. Visit the Turning Stone Web site (http://www.turningstone.com), or contact Zuglan, for further information.
Zion Zvi backed up an undefeated victory at the 10th Annual Empire State Championships last week (Feb. 25-26), with a single-loss win at the 8th Annual New England Pool & Billiards Hall of Fame/Ray Desell Memorial Tournament on the weekend of March 4-5. Zvi faced a former champion of the event, Joe Dupuis, who won it in 2014, three times; once in the hot seat and twice in the double elimination finals. Zvi came back from a loss in the first meeting to double dip Dupuis in the last two. The $2,500-added event, held under the auspices of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, drew 86 entrants to Snooker's in Providence, RI.
Dupuis got into the hot seat of this event after a dramatic comeback in a winners' side semifinal against RYan Lineham. Down 6-0, and five racks behind when Lineham reached the hill, Dupuis came back to tie, before simultaneously taking his first lead of the match and winning it. Zvi joined him in the hot seat match following a 9-5 victory over Bruce Nagle. Dupuis has something of a reputation for thriving in fast-paced games. "When he's on his game, racing around the table," noted an AZ report from the 5th Annual Hall of Fame victory in 2014, "he's a sight to behold." He recreated that "sight to behold" phenomenon in the battle for the hot seat, as he allowed Zvi only three racks in the battle to win it.
On the loss side at the time, there were still a few potential winners of this event, including Jorge Rodriguez and Tom "Shorty" D'Alfonso. Rodriguez had been sent to the loss side by Dupuis (9-6) and was in the midst of a six-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him as far as Zvi and the semifinals. He and D'Alfonso met up in one of the four 9/12 matches, with Rodriguez winning it 7-1 (this was the first time that the Joss NE Tour arranged for loss-side matches to be races to 7). Rodriguez went on to defeat Rick Sleeper 7-3 to draw Lineham. Nagle picked up Dave Fernandez, who'd defeated Francisco Cabral 7-4 and Mike Minichello 7-3 to reach him.
Rodriguez and Fernandez handed Lineham and Nagle their second straight loss, both 7-4, before locking up in a double hill quarterfinal that eventually sent Rodriguez to face Zvi in the semifinals. Zvi ended Rodriguez' loss-side run 7-5 in those semifinals, and got the shot he was looking for against Dupuis in the hot seat.
They fought tooth and nail to double hill in the opener, before Zvi finished it, forcing a second set. They came within a game of forcing a second double hill encounter. Zvi pulled ahead late to claim the title 9-7.
"How are you feeling about this second straight win?" asked Upstate AL, commentator on the AZBTv stream.
"Like Jayson Shaw," said Zvi, referencing Shaw's victory at this event in 2016. "It's been a crazy week.
"I missed a lot of shots," he acknowledged. "I was grinding it, because I wasn't used to these tables. I couldn't make a ball on the break, and (Dupuis) kept getting the momentum."
A record-breaking number of entrants (33) signed on to a $500-added Second Chance tournament, available to "non-pros eliminated from the main event." Like the main event, the Second Chance finals went two sets. With Al McGuane in the hot seat, John Francisco (who'd been sent to the loss side by McGuane in a winners' side semifinal) took the opening set 3-2. By the same score, McGuane won the second set to claim the title. Dave Shlemperis, downed by McGuane in the hot seat match 3-1, finished third, when Francisco followed loss-side victories over Brent Boemmels (3-2) and Bob Madenjian 3-1, and defeated him 3-1.
Joss NE 9-Ball Tour director Mike Zuglan thanked Steve Goulding and his Snooker's staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Joss Cues, Simonis, Aramith, PoolOnTheNet.com, Heidrich Custom Cues, AZBilliards, Billiards Press, and Turning Stone Resort and Casino. The next stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for March 11-12, will be a $1,500-added event ($500-added to Second Chance) – The Northeast 9-Ball Open XXIX – hosted by Trick Shot Billiards and Sports Pub in Clifton Park, NY. Zuglan also reminded prospective players about the Turning Stone Finale, set for August 31-September 3, which at present is about two-thirds full. Interested players should communicate with Zuglan soon.
Congratulations to our Turning Stone Classic XXVII 9-Ball Open Champion Jayson Shaw ($8,000), second chance winner Spencer Auigbelle ($500), $1,500 Joss Cue raffle winners, John Byrnes & Kyle Pepin and the final match autographed cue ball winner Doug Longley. And lets not forget stop # 8 winners, Nelson Oliveira ($1,000), second chance winner Brent Boemmels ($320) and $1,500 Joss Cue raffle winner Josh Lerner.
Now that our Mid Season Championship "Turning Stone Classic XXVII 9-Ball Open is in the books, our regular season is set to continue with stop # 9 at Salt City Billiards in Syracuse NY on Jan 21 & 22. This will be the second of three events to be held at Salt City courtesy of our generous hosts Jennifer and Frank Delconte. Salt City is on of the premier rooms in upstate NY with a full bar and delicious homemade food specials. All of the Gold Crowns we will be using in our event are covered in 860 HR Simonis and equipped with Aramith Tournament balls.
Once again you will also have the opportunity to win a gorgeous, custom, engraved, Joss Cue valued at $1,500 by participating in Salt City's cue raffle. Anyone can participate and you don't have to be present to win! The drawing will be just prior to the final match of the main event on Sunday. The raffle cue can be viewed here: https://josscues.com/joss-northeast-9-ball-tour-2016-17/
So come on down and show your support and play in, or just watch yet another great event with some of the games top players. All players are welcome and you might even win a $1,500 cue while you're there!! For more information about Salt City Billiards and motel accommodations, please contact them directly at 315-454-8643.
This $2,000 total added event at Salt City Billiards will consist of a $1500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry Fee $120 for pro level or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added consolation event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday January 21 BEFORE 11:30 AM, and in proper dress please. Jeans and sneakers are permitted in our billiard parlor events only. But please, no T-shirts, tanks, shorts or sweats. Complete tour info can be found on our recently updated site www.joss9balltour.com
Our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXVIII 9-Ball Open, Season Finale, will be held on August 31 – September 3, 2017 (Labor Day weekend). I began taking entries just last week and it is already about 1/3 full!! To enter you must contact me at 518-356-7163 or see me at any of our events Before the event is full at 128. I strongly urge everyone to act now if you are at all serious about playing in this great event!!
Please remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the world class products of our most generous sponsors. They are the backbone of our sport and deserve our support!!
Thanks and I hope to see you all at Salt City Billiards.
Mike Zuglan, Jeremy Sossei, Nelson Oliveira & Room Owner Phil Harju
It looked like it was going to be smooth sailing for Nelson Oliveira on his run through the field of 40 other players at the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour's stop at Union Station Billiards in Portland Maine on November 19th – 20th, but in the end he would have to fight it out with Jeremy Sossei in a double elimination final before a winner was crowned.
Oliveira had no problems on Saturday, as he scored wins over Jeff Mosimann, Andrew Burns and Bob Dennis to remain undefeated. Joining him on the winner's side Sunday were Jeff Provencher, Dave Hall and Josh Rupard. Sunday matches saw Oliveira beat Provencher 9-1, and Hall beat Rupard 9-4. Oliveira would then go on to defeat Hall by that same 9-4 score.
On the one loss side. Jeremy Sossei was on a tear after a hill-hill loss to Samoth Sam on Saturday. After that loss, Sossei went on a seven match winning streak, including notable wins over Martin Daigle, Chad Bazinet, Provencher, Rupard and Hall.
Sossei extended his streak to eight matches with a 9-5 win over Oliveira in the first set of the double elimination finals. The second set was close early, with the players tied at 3-3, before Oliveira took control and won six straight games for the 9-3 win.
The second chance tournament on Sunday drew a field of 20 players where Brent Boemmels went undefeated to earn first place. Boemmels defeated Travis Webster 3-1 for the hot-seat and then held off Lindsey Monto 3-2 in the first set of the finals. Boemmels collected collected $320 for first, while Monto settled for $200 in second place prize money.
In addition to a fourth place finish in the second chance event, Josh Lerner was also the winner of the raffle for the $1500 custom engraved Joss cue at this event.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour now takes a break until the Turning Stone Classic XXVII on January 5th – 8th in Verona NY. This event is now full.
