Room owner Andrea Duval, Jeremy Sossei and Ron Casanzio
Jeremy Sossei is definitely picking up where he left off after his short break from the game in 2018. He kept up his winning ways with an undefeated run through a field of 44 players at Utica Billiards on the Boulevard in Utica, NY for the Joss NE 9-Ball tour stop on April 6th – 7th.
Sossei’s first match of the day on Saturday was his closest match of the day, as he got things started with a 9-5 win over Frank Ricelli. After that win though, Sossei put together back to back 9-2 wins over Andrew Van Master and Bruce Carrol, and he then closed out day one with a one-sided 9-4 win over Bucky Souvanthong.
Sunday play got underway with Sossei scoring a 9-4 win over Bruce Nagle and then a 9-5 win over Ron Casanzio for the hot-seat.
On the one loss side, all eyes were on Damon Sobers. After a 9-7 loss to Ryan Mayo midday Saturday, Sobers won six straight matches on the left side of the board (including hill-hill wins over Ben Werblow, Ed Saur and Bruce Nagle. Casanzio would finally end Sobers’ winning streak with a 7-4 semi-final match score.
Casanzio would still not be able to get by Sossei in the finals, where Sossei won 9-4 in the first set. It was Sossei’s second Joss NE 9-Ball Tour win this year.
While Josh Welsh’s win in Sunday’s second chance tournament was not an undefeated one like Sossei’s main event win, it was still impressive. Welsh cruised to the hot-seat with a five match winning streak and an overall record of 15 wins and 2 losses. After Jon McConnell eliminated Jared Zimmerman on the one loss side, he came back and handed Welsh his first loss 3-2 in the first set of the double elimination finals. Welsh then came back and scored a 3-2 win over McConnell in the second set for the tournament win. The win was Welsh’s first win on the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour.
Salt City Billiards in Syracuse NY was our host for stop #4 of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's current 20th season with Danny Hewitt taking top honors in the main event. Hewitt's road to the finals was a relatively easy trip with wins over Dave Johnson 9-1, Rohit Aggarwal 9-2, former NYS Champ Alan Kiehle 9-6, Joe Darigis 9-4, Spencer Auigbelle 9-6 and Hendrik Drost 9-3 for the hot seat. His opponent in the finals, Martin Daigle, had a much tougher task at hand. Having lost a hard fought hill-hill 1st round match to Bucky Souvanthong, things were not looking good. But, that loss seemed to trigger a winning attitude as Daigle proceeded to knock off opponents one by one to the tune of 9 wins in a row for him to reach the finals verses Hewitt. Daigle's victories included wins over Lance Kellogg 9-2, Bruce Carroll 9-1, Dwight Dixon 9-3, Dave Grau 9-3, Joe Darigis 9-4, Ed Saur 9-7, Bruce Nagle 9-8, Spencer Auigbelle 9-3 and Hendrik Drost 9-4.
In the true double elimination format it appeared that Daigle had not lost any steam, winning the first set of the all Canadian finals over Hewitt 9-6. The set was somewhat close early on but hewitt was always slightly behind and seemed to have a little trouble getting his game in gear. The second set however was much different as Hewitt simply dominated Daigle to the tune of 9-2. Hewitt collected $1,000 while Daigle settled for second money of $700 and Drost earned $550 for a great 3rd place finish.
Our $20 entry fee Sunday second chance tourney saw Dave Mills come back from an early loss for the win. That event saw Jason Hall defeat Jerome Rockwell for the hot seat. Mills then beat Rockwell and went on to defeat Hall two sets in the final by scores of 3-2 & 3-2. Mills collected $280 for first, Hall $180 for second and Rockwell $120 for third.
The lucky winner of our $1,500 custom engraved Joss Cue raffle was a local player, Charles Maitland.
We are fast approaching our mid season championship "Turning Stone Classic XXVII 9-Ball Open" on January 5-8, 2017. If you would like to compete in this world class event, I suggest you contact Mike Zuglan immediately to avoid being left out. The event is limited to the first 128 paid entries and Always fills months ahead. If just coming to watch, spectator admission is Free once again. Mike Zuglan can be reached at 518-356-7163.
Main Event results:
1st – Danny Hewitt – $1,000
2nd – Martin Daigle – $700
3rd – Hendrik Drost – $550
4th – Spencer Auigbelle – $400
5/6 – Bruce Nagle & Aaron Greenwood – $300 each
7/8 – Ed Saur & Marco Kam – $200 each
9/12 – Bucky Souvanthong, Joe Darigis, Ron Casanzio & Mark Creamer – $100 each
Second Chance results:
1st – Dave Mills – $280
2nd – Jason Hall – $180
3rd – Jerome Rockwell – $120
4th – Nate Marshall – $80
5/6 – Lance Kellogg & Russ Randall – $40 each
The picture includes Frank Delconte, owner, Martin Daigle 2nd place Dan Hewitt 1st Jennifer Delconte, owners wife
Front Meane Daigle Nichole Delconte (daughters)
Jeremy Sossei improved on his second place finish last week, and turned in an undefeated run through a field of 48 players to win the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour's second stop of the 2015/2016 season Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.
Sossei cruised through the winners side and took the hot-seat with a 9-2 win over Ed Saur. Saur would end up settling for second place, after a hill-hill loss to Bruce Nagle in the semi-final match. Nagle had lost to Sossei earlier in the day on Sunday, and was looking good in his bid to revenge in the finals. Nagle stayed close to Sossei until the 6-6 mark, when Sossei took control and rattled off three straight racks for the 9-6 win.
The second chance tournament on Sunday saw Joe Wysocki hold off Kevin Ketz in the finals. Wysocki had the hot-seat, after a 3-2 win over Jamie Garrett. Garrett would then drop another 3-2 match; this time to Ketz. Ketz took the first set of the finals 3-1, but Wysocki righted his ship and scored a 3-0 win in the second set, for first place.
The winner of this stop's $1700 custom engraved Joss cue was Jamie Garrett.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be at Sharpshooters in Amsterdam, NY next week for their next event; another $1500/$500 added event.
Tour director Mike Zuglan urged all players interested in competing in January's Turning Stone Classic XXV to reach him as soon as possible. The field is half full and will definitely fill up for January. Mike can be reached at 518-356-7163.
Mike Donnelly got by Jared Zimmerman twice, once in the battle for the hot seat and again in the finals, to go undefeated on the Dishaw Custom Cues Central New York Tour on Saturday, May 5. The $250-added amateur event drew 22 entrants to Hippo’s in Utica, NY.
From among the winners’ side final four, Donnelly faced Dwight Dixon, while Zimmerman mixed it up with Arlu Whitaker. Donnelly prevailed in an 8-4 victory over Dixon, as Zimmerman sent Whitaker to the loss side 7-3. Donnelly gave up just one rack to Zimmerman in their hot seat battle.
Dixon moved over to tackle Ed Saur, who’d defeated John Cotter 8-4 and Kevin Desilva 8-2 to reach him. Whitaker picked up Paul Enslin, who’d gotten by Jay Brotherton 8-4 and Vic Conte, Jr. (the only triple-A player among the final 12) 8-5. Dixon got back on track with an 8-5 victory over Saur, but Enslin handed Whitaker his second loss 8-1 and moved into the quarterfinals.
Dixon ended Enslin’s three-match, loss-side winning streak with an 8-4 victory in those quarterfinals, before Zimmerman stopped Dixon’s two-match streak 7-4 in the semifinals. Zimmerman had his second shot at Donnelly, but Donnelly repeated his earlier dominance with an 8-3 victory that secured the event title.
Tour Director Gary Lloyd thanked Vic Conte, Jr. and Hippo’s for voluntarily adding money to the event. The final stop on the Dishaw Custom Cues CNY Tour is scheduled May 19-20 at Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY.
Dennis Hatch (File photo courtesy of Bruce Clayton)
Dennis Hatch and Jerry Crowe won events over the weekend of March 24th – 25th at Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.
The main event saw 27 players competing and Dennis Hatch scoring yet another undefeated run through the field. Hatch took the hot-seat with a very close 9-7 win over tour points leader Bucky Souvanthong.
On the one loss side, Souvanthong found Nelson Oliviera waiting. Souvanthong had had no problem with Oliviera on the winners side, defeating Nelson 9-3. Oliviera was more than happy to return the favor this time with a 9-3 win over Souvanthong.
Oliviera’s strong play in the match against Souvanthong was no match for Hatch in the finals as Dennis ran away with a dominating 9-4 win for another tournament win.
The second chance tournament on Sunday saw Jerry Crowe take the hot-seat with a 3-0 win over Ed Saur. Saur came back from the left side after a 3-1 win over Tim Parisian and the two players squared off again in the double elimination finals.
Saur won the first set of the finals 3-1, but Crowe came back to win the final set 3-2 for the tournament win.
The Joss NE 9-Ball tour will be at Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, NY next weekend (March 31 – April 1) for a $2000 added weekend. $1500 will be added to the main event and $500 will be added to the second chance tournament.
Players are still urged to contact Mike Zuglan soon in order to reserve their spot in the season finale at Turning Stone Casino on August 23 – 26. Mike can be reached at 518-356-7163.
