Dave Grau went undefeated at Eastridge Billiards in Rochester, NY on February 23rd – 24th for his first Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop win in over ten years. No one can say he didn’t have to fight for it though. 

 

Grau’s Saturday wins were fairly routine, with the closest competitor (Joe Mayo) losing to Grau 9-6. Sunday, on the other hand, was a different story. Grau started his Sunday campaign with a hill-hill win over Jorge Teixeira and then followed that up with another hill-hill win, this time over Spencer Auigbelle for the hot-seat. 

 

Bucky Souvanthong put together an impressive five match winning streak on the one loss side, after losing a 9-6 match to Ron Casanzio on Saturday. Souvanthong ran out of gas on Sunday though, finishing in 4th place after a loss to Teixeira. Teixeira then dropped a 7-1 decision to Auigbelle in the semi-final match. 

 

The rematch between Grau and Auigbelle in the finals was just slightly more decisive with Grau winning the first (and only) set 9-7 for first place. 

 

Sunday’s second chance tournament saw Chris Braiman run through the right side of the board, scoring a 3-0 win over Dan Sharlow for the hot-seat. Aaron Cameron had lost to Braiman in his second match of the day, but navigated the one loss side and defeated Sharlow 3-1 in the semi-final match. Cameron would get his revenge and then some, in the final match. A 3-2 win in the first set of the finals was followed up by a 3-1 win in the second set to give Cameron first place. 

 

The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be back in action this weekend with the $2500 added 10th NE Pool & Billiard Hall of Fame 9-Ball Open at Snookers in Providence R.I. 

 

Everyone,

 

Congratulations to stop # 12 winners, Bruce Nagle ($1,000 main event), Joe Mayo ($300 second chance) & our $1,200 Joss Cue raffle winner Frank Wolak

 

Stop # 13 of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's 21st season will be at Union Station Billiards in Portland Maine on April 7 & 8. This will be our second of two stops at the Station again this season. Owners Mary and Phil Harju are our most generous hosts for what promises to be another great event and they deserve our thanks for hosting our tournaments. Union Station Billiards, one of the largest rooms in New England, boasts 16 Gold Crowns plus a new 9ft Diamond Pro all covered in 860 Simonis (The Cloth Of Champions). They also have a pub style restaurant with great food and a full bar, ping pong, foosball, air hockey and video games. So lets show the Harjus a big Joss Tour welcome by coming up to play or just watch what promises to be yet another great 9-ball event. You could even win a $1,200 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 April 8 immediately prior to 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/cues/custom/joss-custom-26/

 

For those in need of motel accommodations, Mary and Phil have arranged a 10% discount at the nearby La Quinta, 340 Park Ave, Portland ME. 04102. 207-871-0611. Mention the Union Station Billiards tournament for the discount rate.

                                                                            

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. 

 

For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday April 7, 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 XXX 9-Ball Open (August 23 – 26) is fast approaching and is now about 2/3 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 before the event is full.

  

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.

 

Mike Zuglan

 

One day shy of exactly one year since his last Joss NE 9-Ball Tour win, Bruce Nagle came out on top of another Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop. That wasn’t where the similarities ended though.

 

Last year on the weekend of March 18th – 19th, Nagle went undefeated at King Smiley’s Billiards and defeated Bucky Souvanthong in the finals. This year, on the weekend of March 17th – 18th at Hippos House of Billiards (who came through and hosted the event when King Smiley’s wasn’t able to), Nagle went through the winner’s side undefeated and beat Bucky Souvanthong in the finals. 

 

This year’s stop saw Nagle and Souvanthong battle it out for the hot-seat, which Nagle won 9-3. It was Nagle’s second hot-seat in as many weeks as he was in the hot-seat at last weekend’s Kevin Ketz Memorial. 

 

Souvanthong won a quick 7-2 match against Ron Casanzio on the one loss side and was looking to keep Nagle from the winner’s circle for the second straight week as Nagle lost to Joey Cicero last week. 

 

Souvanthong’s plans were looking good after one set, as he scored a 9-6 win to force a second set. Nagle wasn’t going to get double-dipped twice in a row though and scored a 7-4 win in the second set for first place. 

 

Sunday’s second chance tournament looked a lot like the main event with Joe Mayo taking the hot-seat with a 3-0 win over Bruce Carroll, but losing the first set of the finals (to John McConnell 3-1) before coming back and winning the second set 3-1.

 

The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will now take a break until April 7th – 8th, when they are back in action at Union Station Billiards in Portland, Maine for another $1,500 added main event and $500 added second chance tournament. 

 

Players who are interested in competing in August’s Turning Stone Classic XXX are urged to contact Mike Zuglan soon, as the event is now “well over half full”.