Jeremy Sossei, Sharpshooters Manager Kayla and Bucky Souvanthong
Jeremy Sossei didn’t compete in the October 5th / 6th Joss NE 9-Ball Tour Stop, but he was back in action the last two weekends where he earned his seventh straight title and then finally lost in a final match.
The tour stop at Utica Billiards on the Boulevard on October 12th & 13th saw Sossei run through the field undefeated, beating Ron Casanzio for the hot-seat 9-7 and then Brad Guthrie in the finals. Sossei had defeated Guthrie in the final four on the winner’s side Sunday 9-4 and then did so again 9-2 in the finals.
The next stop, October 19th & 20th at Sharpshooters Billiards and Sports Pub, was looking like yet another Sossei victory as he went through Saturday matches against Bob Nerkert, Chris Braiman and Bruce Carroll undefeated. Sunday was more of the same, with Sossei defeating Danny Hewitt 9-5 and then Qais Kolee for the hot-seat 9-4.
Bucky Souvanthong had dropped a late Saturday match to Kolee, but ran through the one loss side with a Saturday night win over Ben Werblow and then Sunday wins over Ron Casanzio, Hewitt and Kolee to earn his place against Sossei in the finals.
Souvanthong is the only man to have won a Joss Tour Stop this season, aside from Sossei, and he won that stop on the one weekend that Sossei was not in attendance. He proved that he was more than capable of a tour stop win, with or without Sossei in the field, as he double dipped Sossei 9-3 and 7-5 in the finals for first place.
The October 13th second chance tournament saw Fred Gokey drop the hot-seat match to Nick Coppola and then come back to defeat Coppola twice in the finals for first place. The October 20th second chance tournament saw Bruce Carroll with an undefeated run that included 3-1 wins over Norm Vernon for the hot-seat and again in the finals.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be back in action this weekend at Brickhouse Billiards in Syracuse, NY for another $1,500 added main event and $500 added second chance event.
Congratulations to Stop # 4 winners Jeremy Sossei ($1,000), Fred Gokey ($300, second chance) & $1,600 custom, engraved Joss Cue raffle winner, Dennis Gaetano
Stop # 5, The John Babravich – Jim Romanowski 9-Ball Open, of our Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's 2019-2020 season will take place on October 19 & 20 at Sharp Shooters Billiards & Sports Pub in Amsterdam NY. Tim & Julie Berlin also own Trick Shot Billiards & Sports Pub in Clifton Park NY where we will once again have a tour stop this season, as well as another here at Sharp Shooters later on. Sharp Shooters is the home of some of the Diamond Pro tables that were used at one of our Turning Stone Classic events just a few years ago. Sharp Shooters is a full service facility with a full bar, a complete pub food menu, darts, arcade games, nightly entertainment and most recently a tournament quality indoor Bocce Ball court. There is something for everyone of all ages, every day of the week at Sharp Shooters. More information can be found at their site www.sharpshootersbilliards.com or call them at 518-627-4634. Also, as is done at all of our Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour events, there will be a raffle for a custom, engraved, Joss Cue valued at $1,600. Anyone can participate in the cue raffle and you Do Not have to be present to win! The drawing for this gorgeous cue will take place immediately prior to the final match on Sunday. So come to Sharp Shooters to play, or just watch a great tournament & to show your appreciation to Tim & Julie by taking a shot at winning a $1,600 Joss cue in their raffle!
This event is being held in honor of our recently departed good friends and Sharp Shooters and regular Joss Tour players, John "Babs" Babravich and Jim Romanowski. RIP friends. You are both missed immensely!
If you will be in need accommodations, try one of these two nearby motels. Super 8, 5502 Rt 30, Amsterdam NY 12010, 518-843-5888 OR Valley View Inn,1351 NY Rt 5s, Amsterdam NY 12010, 518-842-5637.
This event at Sharp Shooters Billiards & Sports Pub 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 second chance event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. All of our billiard parlor main events are now races to 9 on the winners side and races to 7 on the one loss side.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday Oct 19th BEFORE 11:30 AM, and in proper dress please. Jeans and sneakers are permitted in our billiard parlor events. But please, No T-shirts, No tanks, No shorts or sweats. Complete tour info can be found on our site www.joss9balltour.com
Also, our second "Joss Junior 9-Ball Championships" will be held right here at Sharp Shooters on January 25, 2020. There will once again be 2 divisions. 18 & under and 12 and under. 18 & under will play exactly the same as all of our regular season Joss events which is, races to 9/7 double elimination on the 9 footers. The 12 & under will play races to 7/5, double elimination on the 7 footers. For more info, please contact Mike Zuglan immediately at 518-356-7163 for entry information. Please contact Mike if you would like to donate any items to be given away at the event.
Please note that our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXIII 9-Ball Open on January 9 – 12, 2020 is fast approaching and will fill to capacity before you know it. If you would like to compete in this BCA, WPA official 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 at 128. I have actively been collecting entries since our last Turning Stone event and we currently have well over 100 paid players so I strongly urge everyone to act now!! Please do not reply to this email. Only mzjosstour@aol.com works for me.
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 Sharp Shooters.
Mike Zuglan
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
Qays Kolee, Room Owner Andrea Duvall and Bucky Souvanthong
Bucky Souvanthong came through a field of 46 players to win his first Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop of the new season at Utica Billiards on the Boulevard on October 27th – 28th.
Kolee’s final three matches before the hot-seat match couldn’t have been much closer as he defeated Nick Brucato 9-8, Hendrick Drost 9-7 and Spencer Auigelle 9-8.
Souvanthong took the hot-seat with a fairly routine 9-5 win. Kolee scored a more convincing 7-4 win over Auigbelle on the one loss side, but dropped the first set of the finals against Souvanthong 9-3.
Twenty one players came back to Billiards on the Boulevard on Sunday for the $500 added second chance tournament. Fred Gokey defeated Mike Sykes for the hot-seat 3-2, and then defeated Nick Coppola in the second set of the finals (after a 3-0 loss in the first set) 3-2 for the win.
Joss NE 9-Ball Tour Director Mike Zuglan is urging players interested in playing in the Turning Stone Classic XXXI to contact him as soon as possible. He has “a handful of spots left”, and the event will certainly fill up.
Congratulations to stop # 5 winners, Bucky Souvanthong ($1,000), Fred Gokey ($320 second chance) & our $1,500 Joss Cue raffle winner James Meenan
Stop # 6 of my Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's 22nd season will be at Union Station Billiards in Portland Maine on Nov. 3 & 4. This will be the first of two stops at the Station this season with the second taking place on March 23 & 24, 2019 and that one being our first ever FargoRate handicapped event. Owners Mary and Phil Harju are our most generous hosts for what promises to be another great event and deserve our sincere thanks for allowing us the use of their beautiful room. Union Station Billiards boasts 16 Gold Crowns, all covered in 860 Simonis (The Cloth Of Champions) which will allow us to move swiftly throughout the weekend. They also have a pub style restaurant with great food, a full bar, ping pong, foosball, air hockey and video games. So lets show the Harjus our appreciation by coming to play or just watch what promises to be yet another great 9-ball event. You could even win a $1,500 custom engraved Joss Cue in the raffle. Anyone can participate and you do not have to be present to win. The drawing for the cue will be on Sunday just before the final match of the main event. For more information about Union Station Billiards, check them out on Facebook or call them at 207-899-3693. The raffle cue can be seen here: https://josscues.com/joss-tour-2018-19-cue/
For those in need of motel accommodations, there is a La Quinta nearby at 340 Park Ave, Portland Me.04102, 207-871-0611, or call Union Station for more nearby motel info.
This event at Union Station 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 second chance event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. All of our events are open to players of all skill levels. Our main event format remains true double elimination, but now with races to 9 on the winners side and races to 7 on the one loss side.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday Nov. 18 Before 11:30 AM, and in proper dress please. Yes, jeans and sneakers are permitted in our billiard parlor events. But please, NO T-SHIRTS, TANKS, SHORTS OR SWEATS. Complete tour info can be found on our site www.joss9balltour.com
Our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXI 9-Ball Open (January 10-13, 2019) is fast approaching and is now almost full. If you would like to compete in this great event, NOW is the time to enter to avoid being shut out! To enter you must contact me immediately at 518-356-7163
Please remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize and promote 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 Union Station Billiards.
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.
