Archive Page

Diaz and Gestwicki split top prizes at AllOut Pool Tour season finale

(l to r): Jimmy Gestwicki & Francisco Diaz

‘Tis the season. . . for tour finales, and while the Florida-based AllOut Pool Tour wasn’t exactly sporting traditional holiday weather for theirs (it was in the mid-80s on Saturday, Dec. 8), they did gather and revel in the final tour stop of the season. The $1,000-added event drew 34 entrants to K & K Billiards in Miami, FL. Francisco Diaz ended up going undefeated in the event, although he and runner-up Jimmy Gestwicki opted out of a final match.
 
They did meet each other, in a winners’ side quarterfinal, that, after battling to double hill, sent Gestwicki to the loss side and Diaz on to a winners’ side semifinal match against Carl Kahn. Two long-time Florida competitors, very familiar with each other – Tommy Kennedy and Anthony Meglino – faced off in the other winners’ side semifinal.
 
Diaz downed Kahn 8-2 and in the hot seat match, met Meglino, who, in a straight-up race to 7 against Kennedy, sent him to the loss side 7-2. Diaz claimed the hot seat 6-7 over Meglino (racing to 9), which, for all intents and purposes, ended Diaz’ day at the tables.
 
On the loss side, Khan picked up Cary Cass, who’d lost his opening round match to Ed Acosta, and was in the midst of a six-match, loss-side winning streak that had most recently eliminated Sunny Nassif, double hill and Jeremy Fournier 8-3. Kennedy drew Gestwicki, who, following his defeat at the hands of Diaz, had defeated Mario Posada 8-4 and Randy Eperson, double hill.
 
Gestwicki eliminated Kennedy, who was racing to 9, 6-3. He was joined in the quarterfinals by Cass, who added another notch to his loss-side winning streak belt with a double hill elimination of Khan. Gestwicki ended Cass’ streak 8-5 in the quarterfinals, and then, with Meglino racing to 9, as well, eliminated him, double hill (6-8) in the semifinals.
 
It was nearing 2 a.m. when Diaz and Gestwicki called it quits and opted to split the event’s top two prizes. Tour director Peter Ghostine thanked Kostia Berrios and his K & K staff, as well as sponsors Dennis Searing Precision Tip, RYO racks, Billiard Bill’s Custom Cue and Repairs, Billiard Engineering and Boynton Billiards. The AllOut Pool Tour’s 2019 season opener, scheduled for February 16-17, will consist of an all-around GSB (gold, silver, bronze), 16-player Open-Pro event ($2,000-added) on 9 ft. Diamonds and a 32-player 10-Ball Amateur event ($500-added), played on 7 ft. Diamonds. It will be hosted by Shooter’s Billiards.
 

Tornado Open Concludes

Villareal and Orcullo

The Tornado Open has concluded at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The event had several different classifications and it isn't difficult to recognize the names of our winners.

 

Shane Van Boening claimed the top spot in the Men's Open 10-Ball by double-dipping Josh Roberts in the true double-elimination final with a combined score in the two sets of 16-2. This was rather a surprise as Roberts had been shooting lights out prior to the finals as he had defeated Shane, Dennis Orcullo and Shaun Wilkie in his three previous trips to the table. But in the finals Shane was unstoppable and Roberts only rarely had a look at a makeable shot.

 

Van Boening's was not the only double-dip of the final evening. Kelly Fisher did the same with Ga Young Kim after Ga Young had earned the hot seat by defeating Allison Fisher 7-3 in the Women's Pro 10-Ball. Kelly Fisher survived her trip to the loser's side by defeating Monica Webb (7-5) and Chezka Centeno (7-6). She then returned to win the title by besting Ga Young Kim 7-5 and then 7-4.

 

There was also Jack and Jill Scotch Doubles action! Vivian Villareal and Dennis Orcullo took home top honors here by defeating John Morra and Allison Fisher. Karen Corr and Corey Deuel finsihed in third.

 

The Women's Amateur event was captured by Christy Norris. Bonnie Coats grabbed second while Bev Ashton took the final podium spot in third. In the Men's Amateur division Jimmy Gestwicki took the Gold, Louis Altes the Silver and Kyle Bova took the Bronze.

 

Look for expanded coverage, results and payouts in the upcoming issue of the Billiards Buzz.