In Jimmy Rivera's first Tri-State Tour win, back in February of 2013, he won five on the loss side and eventually defeated Koka Davladze in the finals. Three years and six months later, on Saturday, August 20, Rivera chalked up his second Tri-State victory, once again, coming from the loss side. This time, though, he won nine on the loss side for a shot in the finals against Henri Hernandez, who, due to the lateness of the hour, was forced to withdraw, leaving Rivera as the event winner. The $1,000-added, A/D handicapped event drew 57 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.

 

With Rivera already long at work on the loss side, Hernandez advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Miguel Laboy. Adalberto Nazario squared off against Ron Bernardo in the other one. Hernandez sent LaBoy to the loss side 7-4 and, in the hot seat match, faced Nazario, who'd defeated Bernardo 6-2. In what would prove to be his last match of the tournament, Hernandez claimed the hot seat 9-8 over Nazario.

 

On the loss side, LaBoy drew Rivera, already six matches into his loss-side run with wins over Patrick Dugan, Steve Kaminow, Stewart Warnock, and Amir Rashad Uddin. In the event's first money rounds, Rivera defeated Mike Figueroa 7-5, and Max Watanabe 7-4 to face LaBoy. Bernardo, in the meantime, picked up Ambi Estevez, who'd defeated Nicole Monaco and Mike Esposito, both 6-3, to reach him.

 

Rivera, who was never afforded the opportunity to face the opponent who'd sent him to the loss side (Arturo Reyes), downed LaBoy 7-2. He was joined in the quarterfinals by Bernardo, who'd ended Estevez' night 7-6. Rivera leapfrogged into the semifinals against Nazario when Bernardo forfeited the quarterfinal match. Rivera completed his loss-side run with an 11-7 victory over Nazario in the semifinals.

 

It was at this point that Hernandez was forced to bow out. He and Rivera split the top two prizes, while Rivera was awarded the event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked Manny Stamatakis and his staff at Steinway 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 the weekend of August 27-28, will be hosted by Amsterdam Billiards in Manhattan.

 

Michael Corona came back from a defeat at the hands of Alison Fischer to win all five of his matches on the loss side and two more against hot seat occupant Henri Hernandez to claim the Tri-State Tour event title. The $720-added, B/C/D event drew 39 entrants to Amsterdam Billiards and Bar in Manhattan on the weekend of August 29-30.

 

After defeating Corona, double hill, in a winners' side quarterfinal, Fischer, who'd been off the tour recently due to a hand injury, and had guaranteed herself at least a share of the 5/6 money ($120), moved into a winners' side semifinal against Jiri Marsalo. She was the only "C" player among three "B"s in those semifinals. Henri Hernandez, in the meantime, squared off against Kirill Safronov. Marsalo sent Fischer to the loss side 8-3, and in the hot seat match, faced Hernandez, who'd sent Safronov over 7-3. Hernandez claimed the hot seat 7-5.

 

On the loss side, Corona opened up his five-match winning streak with a 7-3 win over teenager Thomas Rice, and then, double hill, eliminated Tri-State vet Tony Ignomirello. He drew Safronov. Fischer picked up Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, who'd gotten by Dmitry Rozenfeld 7-3 and Martin Carducci 7-5.

 

Corona downed Safronov 7-2, as Fischer defeated Delimelkonoglu 8-7; Delimelkonoglu scratching on the 9-ball at double hill. Fischer's return to the Tri-State tables came to an end at the hands of Corona in the re-match quarterfinals 8-4. Corona went on to defeat Marsalo, double hill, in the semifinals.

 

Corona took the opening set of the two-day event's double elimination final 7-4. Hernandez got a game closer in the second set, but Corona completed his first Tri-State win 7-5.