It’s been two Tri-State seasons, but just a little under a year and half since Abel Rosario chalked up a win on the Tri-State Tour. That victory came in March 2018 during the tour’s 2017-2018 season and was more or less just the beginning of what would prove to be Rosario’s best earnings year on record. A month earlier, he’d finished as runner-up on a Tri-State Tour stop. Before the year was over and after the Tri-State season had changed to 2018-2019, Rosario recorded two victories on the Predator Pro Am Tour, including a win in their tour championships in December, which, due to the lateness of the hour, featured a single-game final that Rosario won over hot seat occupant, Ron Bernardo.

 

On the weekend of August 24-25, Rosario came from the loss side again to snatch victory from the hands of hot seat occupant and relative newcomer, Euryel Castillo, who was looking for his second win on the Tri-State Tour and his first without a no-final-match asterisk, which he’d picked up in March at Cue Bar in Bayside (Queens), NY. The $1,000-added B/C/D event drew 37 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.

 

It was Castillo who, with a double hill win, sent Rosario off to the loss-side races in a winners’ side quarterfinal. Castillo advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Corey Ward, as Harry Guevarez and Luis Lopez met in the other one.

 

Castillo advanced to the hot seat match 7-5 over Ward. Guevarez joined him following a 7-4 win over Lopez. Castillo got into the hot seat (as he had in March) with a 7-4 win over Guevarez (it had been “Smiley” Feliz in March).

 

First up for Rosario on the loss side was Thomas Schreiber, whom he defeated 7-4 to meet and defeat Kirill Safronov 7-5. This set Rosario up to face Luis Lopez, coming over from his winners’ side semifinal loss. Ward drew Mike Strassberg, who’d eliminated Mitra Kanhai 6-4 and Luis Jimenez 7-4.

 

Rosario and Ward advanced to the quarterfinals; Rosario 8-6 over Lopez and Ward, spoiling Strassberg’s bid for a first Tri-State title since the tour’s 2017-2018 season, 6-2. Rosario and Ward battled to double hill in those quarterfinals before Rosario advanced to meet Guevarez in the semifinals.

 

Rosario downed Guevarez 7-5 in those semifinals and advanced to meet the man who’d essentially doubled the number of matches he had to play to claim the event title when they met first in the winners’ side quarterfinal (from three to six). Rosario defeated Castillo 9-4 to claim his first 2019 title and his first on the tour’s 2019-2020 season.

 

Tour representatives thanked Manny Stamatakis and his staff at Steinway Billiards, as well as sponsors John Bender Custom Cues, Ozone Billiards, Sterling Billiards, Kamui, Quick Slick, Billiards Digest, Liquid Shaft Cues, Joe Romer Trophies, and Phil Capelle Publications. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for the weekend of September 7-8, will be a $1,000-added event, hosted by Cue Bar in Bayside (Queens), NY.

Brian Cap and Harry Guevarez met up in the opening round of the Saturday, August 12 stop on the Tri-State Tour; the tour's first 8-ball event of the 2017-2018 season. At the end of the day, the result – Cap winning 6-4 – stood as the deciding match. Though Guevarez would win five on the loss side to earn a re-match in the finals, the two opted out of that final match, leaving Cap, the hot seat occupant, as the event winner. The $1,000-added event drew 22 entrants to Rockaway Blliards in Rockaway, NJ.

 

With what proved to be the only match between the eventual winner and runner-up out of the way, Cap moved on to defeat Michael Conoran 6-4 and then, meet up with Jaydev Zaveri in a winners' side semifinal. In the meantime, Allison LaFleur, on her way to her second top-three finish in as many weeks, made it by Mike Guevara, Michelle Brotons (friend and road partner) and Ron Lichtenberger to face Andrew Cicoria in the other winners' side semifinal.

 

Cap defeated Zaveri 6-4, and in the hot seat match, faced LaFleur, who'd chalked up her second straight, double hill win versus Cicoria. Cap claimed the hot seat 9-6 in what would prove to be his last match of the day.

 

On the loss side, Harry Guevarez opened his five-match march to the finals-that-never-were with a forfeit win, and defeated Paul Madonia 6-4 to draw Zaveri. Cicoria picked up Gil McGrath, who'd defeated Artur Trzeciak, double hill, and Lichtenberger 5-3 to reach him.

 

Guevarez defeated Zaveri 6-4, as Cicoria got right back to work and downed McGrath, double hill.  Guevarez then defeated Cicoria 6-2 in the quarterfinals. In what was described by tour representatives as a victory of "experience over determination," Guevarez dropped the final 8-ball of the semifinals, and last match of the event, winning it 7-4 over LaFleur to conclude the day's activities. The undefeated Cap claimed the event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Rockaway Billiards, as well as sponsors John Bender Custom Cues, Ozone Billiards, Sterling Billiards, Kamui, Digicue, Billiards Digest, Human Kinetics, Blue Book Publishing,  Phil Capelle Publications and Joe Romer Trophies. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, a $1,000-added B/C/D event, scheduled for August 19-20, will be hosted by Amsterdam Billiards in Manhattan, NY.

Harry Guevarez, who won the Tri-State Tour's 2016-2017 season opener last July, chalked up his second 2016-2017 win on the tour with an almost-undefeated run on Saturday, May 13. Rhio Anne ("Annie") Flores disrupted his otherwise uninterrupted run to the winners' circle with a victory over him in the hot seat match. Guevarez came back from the semifinals to claim the event title. The $1,000-added event drew 47 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.

 

They met first, after Guevarez had shut out Adrian Daniel, and Annie Flores had sent Tony Liang to the loss side 7-3 in the two winners' side semifinals. Annie claimed the hot seat 9-7 and waited for Guevarez to get back from the semifinals. 

 

On the loss side, Daniel picked up Zouraiz Ellahi, who'd recently defeated Andrea Shiffman 6-1, and just did get by Carlos Serrano 7-6. Liang drew Dave Shlemperis, who'd lost his first match and was in the midst of a nine-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him as far as the semifinals. He downed Lidio Ramirez 7-1 and like Ellahi, just did survive a 7/8 match versus Amir Udin.

 

Shlemperis and Ellahi handed Liang and Daniel their second straight loss; Shlemperis 7-3 over Liang and Ellahi 6-3 over Daniel. Shlemperis chalked up what would prove to be his final loss-side win with a 7-3 win over Ellahi. By the same score, Guevarez ended Shlemperis' streak to earn his second shot against Flores.

 

With two 'on the wire' at the start of the finals, Guevarez won three straight for a 5-0 lead over Flores. Flores responded with two racks, Guevarez answered with two more and Flores came back with another two. At 7-4 Harry chalked one up to reach the hill first. Flores fought back with three to make it 8-7, before Guevarez closed it out at 9-7 to claim the event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Steinway Billiards for their hospitality and ongoing support of the tour, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Saturday, May 20, will be hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ. 

The Tri-State Tour opened its 2016-2017 season with a $375-added, C/D-handicapped event that drew 18 entrants to the Cue Bar in Bayside (Queens), NY on Sunday, July 10. Harry Guevarez chalked up his first-ever win on the tour with an undefeated performance that saw him defeat Greg Matos twice.

 

They met first in the hot seat match, once Guevarez had sent Mario Losano to the loss side 6-1, and Matos had defeated Allison LaFleur 7-5. Guevarez claimed the hot seat (his first) 6-1 and waited on Matos' return.

 

On the loss side, Losano picked up Erick Carrasco, who'd defeated Alberto Sanchez 7-4 and Bob Toomey 6-4 to reach him. La Fleur drew Ambi Estevez, who'd eliminated Jimmy Cardona 6-4 and Irene Kim 7-4. LaFleur and Losano got right back to work; LaFleur ending Estevez' day 8-4, while Losano downed Carrasco 7-2.

 

Losano took the quarterfinal match 7-4 over LaFleur and then, had his short, loss-side streak ended 6-4 by Matos. Matos then had his even shorter loss-side streak ended 6-2 in the finals.

 

Tour directors thanked the ownership and staff at the Cue Bar for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, and A/D-handicapped event, scheduled for Saturday, July 16, will be hosted by Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.

The nineteenth annual Tri-State Tour Invitational Tournament took place June 25 & 26, 2016, at Steinway Café and Billiards in Astoria, NY. The weekend was a huge success for the tour with 16 A & A+ Players, 25 B & B+ Players, 31 C & C+ Players and 15 D & D+ Players who earned their way in to compete in their respective classes and play for their chance to be named the Tri-State Tour Invitational Grand Champion. Steinway Café and Billiards hosted the event for the second year and once again provided a great atmosphere and playing environment for the players. Steinway Café and Billiards owner Manny Stamatakis and the staff including Anna and George were very professional, helpful and gracious. Manny donated the room and all the table time. Their generosity and support to the players and the event as always were exemplary. The staff and everyone at the room assured the events success. Steinway Café and Billiards is an excellent venue for any event, it has professionally maintained tables, a clean fresh atmosphere and some of the very best food in NYC.  

 

As each day began, organizers John Leyman, Todd Fleitman, Rick Shellhouse & Daniel Cintron congratulated the players on reaching the top of their classes for the season and handed out awards to the top players of the year in each class. The Tri-State Tour added $4000 in cash prizes and the sponsors John Bender Custom Cues, Ozone Billiards, Kamui Tips, Sterling Gaming, Capelle’s Pool Books, The 90/90 Aiming System, Pool & Billiards, Professor-Q-Ball’s News, Blue Book Publications, Steinway Café and Billiards, Amsterdam Billiards, and Romer’s Trophies went out of their way to provide the event with excellent equipment and prizes. The sponsors as the Tri-State has always maintained are owed a debt a gratitude for their dedication to the game and the players, their efforts and generosity are what always make the event so special and such a great success and without their continued support of the sport and the players this event could not happen. 

 

Awards were presented to the top 3 players in each class, the Most Improved Player of the Year, and Sportsman of the Year. The most improved player went to Erick Carrasco. He has grown from a beginner player to a good and competent player over the past year. He started on the tour as a D+ player barely able to string a couple good shots together to a player who is much stronger and is now rated C+ and has a good command of the game. His recent 4th place finish in a field of 191 players at the George “Ginky” San Souci Memorial is a tribute to how much Erick’s game has improved. Each year the tour awards one player the “Sportsperson of the Year” award. It is awarded to someone the tour believes exemplifies what a player should be and how they should act and this year’s award went to Jim Gutierrez. Jim never faltered in his efforts to always be a sportsman at the table even when he was in a battle to win D Class player of the year. Even if it meant losing a match and watching the player he was battling for first place with go further in the event and earn more points. His great attitude and his efforts to always make everything right and fair in a match is what other players should strive to emulate. 

 

The top players of the year in their respective classes were Miguel Laboy winning the A+/A class for the second year in a row, Steve Kaminow B+ player, Kevin Scalzitti B player, Tony Ignomirello returning to the top again this year as the C+ player, Bob Toomey as the C player and Jim Gutierrez D+/D class player of the year. This year saw some new ladies rise to the top of the leader board with the Ladies Player of the Year being Akiko Taniyama. For a full list of winners for all the classes and events, please see the web site www.thetristatetour.com. 

 

The action in the tournament got going around eleven on Saturday morning, June 25 with the B+ and B class players along with the D+/D players kicking off the event.  The B+ class was won by some very strong play from Shivam Gupta who bested all players on the no loss side to reach the finals undefeated. Alberto Estevez after a 3rd round loss to Kapriel Delimelkonoglu moved to the one loss side. He then beat his next 2 opponents to meet Kapriel in the semi-finals with a chance to return to the B+ finals for the second year in a row. This time Alberto won with a score of 7-4. In the finals Shivam played nearly flawlessly and sent Alberto home again with a second place finish. In the B-Class Ramon Feliciano went thru the field in his usual strong and deliberate manner and bested all comers. He won against Pascal Dufresne in the hot seat match 7-6 and then beat him again in the finals only allowing Pascal to get to 4 this time.

 

The D+/D class saw Chris Kaiser and Alberto Sanchez battle their way to the hot seat match where Chris played well and did everything right and won the set 6-2. Alberto after being sent to the one loss side met up with Samantha Adler who had lost her first match of the day and battled all the way back winning 5 back to back matches to get to the semi-finals. But after the grueling grind of the one loss side Samantha just ran out of steam and Alberto took advantage of some luck and some mistakes and won the match 6-2. The finals saw Chris take an early lead but Alberto battled back to tie the score at 4-4 and then Chris took control and played well to finish off the match with an 8-4 win.

 

On Sunday, play resumed at 11 AM with the A+/A players and the C+ class and C class arriving to do battle. Stewart Warnock played with a purpose all day in the A+/A Class and his drive and determination saw him arrive in the finals undefeated. His opponent Ron Gabia had lost his 3rd round match of the day to move to the one loss side and proceeded to handily dispatch his opponents to arrive in the finals. And just like the day had already went for the 2 players Stewart went out in front early and looked to dominate but Ron would not be held back. As he had done all day he battled back and surged ahead to win the match 9-6.

 

In the C+ class Jaydev Zaveri sent Harry Guevarez to the one loss side in the hot seat match with a score of 6-3. Harry then battled back for a rematch with Jaydev beating Michael Aro 6-2. Jaydev who played well all day

not allowing any opponent more than 4 wins in any match struggled only slightly and allowed Harry to get to the hill. But in the end Jaydev took advantage of some good rolls and won the match 6-5.

 

The C Class saw one player in the finals undefeated while their opponent had lost his first match of the day. Amy Yu played very strong all day besting her opponents 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4 to get to the finals undefeated. Bob Toomey the C Class player of the year lost his first match 6-4 to Ron Chau and moved to the one loss side and battled to the semifinals match with 5 wins and thus had a chance to redeem himself against Ron Chau. Which Bob did winning on the hill 6-5. But being C Class player of the year and the C Class event winner was just out of reach as Amy Yu once again played very well and won the match 6-3.

 

This left our 6 class champions to do battle for the Grand Champion title. Jaydev Zaveri continued his dominating ways and beat Amy Yu 6-3 to win the C+/C playoff and then Chris Kaiser in the C/D playoff on the hill 7-6. At times it looked like Chris was going to win but Jaydev hung in there took advantage of some good rolls and came out on top. In the B+/B class playoff Ramon Feliciano executed very well and bested Shivam Gupta in the match 7-5. Ramon Feliciano continued his deliberate and winning game play and forged on to the grand finals beating Ron Gabia 7-4 in the A/B playoffs. But in the grand finals Ramon just could not get going right away and fell behind. He caught some wind and started to battle back but by that time it was just too late and Jaydev as he had all day took advantage of the mistakes and the rolls and won the match 7-3 to become that 2015-2016 Tri-State Tour Invitational Grand Champion.

Nayan Roy, sent to the loss side by Jaydev Zaveri in a winners' side semifinal, came back to meet and defeat Zaveri in the finals of the February 28 stop on the Tri-State Tour. The $1,000-added 9-ball event was hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.

 

Roy got by Vjay Patel and Harry Guevarez before running into Zaveri in a winners' side semifinal. Mikes Strassberg and Figueroa, in the meantime, met in the other. Zaveri sent Roy to the loss side 6-1, and in the hot seat match, face Strassberg, who'd sent Figueroa over 6-2. Zaveri claimed the hot seat 6-4 over Strassberg and waited on Roy.

 

On the loss side, Roy opened up against Vjay Patel, who, following his defeat at the hands of Ray, previously, had gone on to defeat Keith Connally 6-1 and Brian Schell 5-1, to reach him. Figueroa drew Harry Guevarez, who'd eliminated Shweta Zaveri 8-3, and Jessica Lynn Greibesland 6-1.

 

Roy and Guevarez advanced to the quarterfinals; Roy, 7-5 over Patel, and Guevarez, 6-5 over Figueroa. Roy and Guevarez battled to double hill in those quarterfinals, before Roy prevailed to meet Strassberg in the semifinals. Roy got his second shot at Zaveri in the hot seat with a shutout over Strassberg.

 

Roy and Zaveri each chalked up two racks to open the finals. Roy added two to take the lead he'd never relinquish. Zaveri would get as close as one, at 4-3, before Roy pulled away, steadily, to close it at 8-4.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics , and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for March 13, will be hosted by Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.

It was, according to our records here at AZBilliards, a month shy of a year ago, that Eddie Crespo won his first Tri-State Tour stop at Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ. On Halloween night, at the same location, Crespo chalked up his second, going undefeated to capture the $1,000-added event title that drew 17 entrants.

 

Victories over Dave Ascolese, and John Wu set Crespo up for a winners' side semifinal match against Harry Guevarez, as Bob Toomey faced Frankie Scanlon. Crespo and Toomey survived double hill matches to face each other in the hot seat match, won, in a third hot seat match, by Crespo.

 

Guevarez moved over to face Luis Jimenez, who'd defeated Tony Ignomirello 7-4 and Ralph Ramos, Sr. 7-3. Scanlon drew Andrew Butler, who'd eliminated Ascolese 7-1 and Ralph Ramos, Jr. 8-4.

 

Guevarez came out on the winning end of his second straight double hill match, defeating Jimenez. Butler, in the meantime, defeated Scanlon 6-3. Butler took the quarterfinal match versus Guevarez 7-4, but then had his loss-side run stopped by Toomey, double hill, in the semifinals.

 

With a handicap, Toomey started the re-match finals ahead by three, a lead that Crespo quickly eliminated with four racks. Toomey responded with one of his own to tie the match at 4-4. Crespo responded with three, Toomey won a second game, and Crespo closed it out at 8-5 to claim the event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics , and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next Tri-State Tour event, scheduled for November 8, will be hosted by BQE Billiards in Jackson Heights (Queens), NY.

For the past three years, Bogie Uzdejczyk has won at least one stop on the Tri-State or Predator Tours. He won two Tri-State stops in 2011, two more in 2012, and picked up a Predator win in 2013. One week after winning the first Tri-State Tour stop of 2014, he finished fifth in an Open/Pro Predator event behind Tony Robles, Mike Dechaine, Zion Zvi and Frankie Hernandez.  On Saturday, October 4, he claimed his fourth, undefeated Tri-State title of 2014. The $750-added event drew 23 entrants to Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.

 

Uzdejczyk had to get by Chris Peralta twice to claim this most recent Tri-State title. Following wins against Duane Toney, Keith Adamik, and Hank Nguyen, Uzdejczyk faced Peralta for the first time in a winners' side semifinal, defeating him 7-4, as Robert Jew was busy defeating Teddy Lapadula 6-1. Uzdejczyk claimed the hot seat with a 9-6 win over Jew and waited on Peralta.

 

Peralta moved over and started his trek back to the finals against Nelson Tran, who'd defeated Dave Ascolese 7-1 and Harry Guevarez 7-4. LaPadula picked up Larry Chandler, who'd gotten by Ada Lio 7-3 and Roger Duronio 6-4. Peralta eliminated Tran 7-2 and in the quarterfinals, faced LaPadula, who'd finished Chandler's day 6-5.

 

Peralta, looking for his first Tri-State win, defeated LaPadula 7-5, and earned his first shot in a Tri-State final with a 7-3 win over Jew in the semifinals. He took the opening two racks in the finals, and after giving up one, re-established the two-rack lead at 3-1. Uzdejczyk took the next two to tie it up at 3-3, before Peralta regained the lead for the last time at 4-3. Over the next six, they traded racks, with Uzdejczyk maintaining the single-rack initiative. At 6-6, he did so for the last time, claiming the event title, as Peralta recorded his best finish on the Tri-State tour.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Qpod, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Focus Cases by John Bartron, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for October 11, will be hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ. 

Neil Walmsley stopped an eight-match, loss-side winning streak by Yomaylin "Smiley" Feliz to capture the July 28 stop on the Tri-State Tour. The $1,000-added event drew 31 entrants to Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ. 

 

Feliz came out on the wrong end of a double hill match against David Ascolese in the opening round of play, and embarked on the longest possible route (eight matches) back to the finals. Walmsley, in the meantime, after victories over Dave Shlemperis, Scott Bannon, and Harry Guevarez, advanced among the winners' side final four to meet up with Scott Simonetti. Tony Ignomirello and Grant Weldon squared off in the other winners' side semifinal. Walmsley sent Simonetti over 7-5, for a match against Feliz, as Ignomirello advanced 8-7 over Weldon. Walmsley got into the hot seat with a 7-5 win over Ignomirello, and waited on Feliz.

 

With three wins chalked up on the loss side (including wins over Carl Yusuf Khan and Bannon), Feliz survived two straight double hill matches – against Guevarez and "Annie" Flores – to pick up Simonetti. Weldon drew Ambi Estevez, who'd defeated Mike Davie 6-4 and Jay Choi 6-3 to reach him. Feliz handed Simonetti his second straight loss 8-5 and was met in the quarterfinals by Weldon, who'd eliminated Estevez 8-4.

 

Feliz downed Weldon 7-4, and then survived yet another double hill fight; this one, against Simonetti in the semifinals. She moved on to her third appearance in a Tri-State final since January.

 

It looked as though Feliz was destined for a fourth double hill fight, as she and Walmsley battled back and forth to a 4-4 tie. Walmsley, though, found a second gear and won three straight to claim the event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour is scheduled for August 3 at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.