Michael Corona capped his first victory on the Tri-State Tour on the weekend of August 29-30, with a second victory, one week later, on Saturday, September 5. Having tried the 'loss side' route to the winners' circle the week before, he opted for the more direct, shorter and undefeated route the second time around. The $1,000-added event drew 24 entrants to Cue Bar & Billiards in Bayside (Queens), NY.

 

Following victories over Lidio Ramierez and Gene Ok, Corona moved into a winners' side semifinal against Steve Kaminow. His eventual hot seat and finals opponent, Mike Esposito, in the meantime, squared off against Tony Ignomirello. Two double hill matches with Corona and Esposito emerging from the both to meet in the hot seat match. Corona got out ahead in this one and claimed the hot seat 7-3.

 

On the loss side, Ignomirello picked up Michael Strassberg, who'd defeated Marvin Phisitkraiyakosn 6-4 and Thomas Schreiber 7-4, to reach him. Kaminow drew Nigel Francis, who'd gotten by Phillip Pierce 7-4 and Chumreon Sutcharitakul 7-5.

 

Tony "Iggy" downed Strassberg 6-5, and, in the quarterfinals, faced Francis, who'd handed Kaminow his second straight loss 7-3. "Iggy" took the quarterfinal match over Francis, double hill, but was then, himself eliminated, double hill, by Esposito in the semifinals.

 

Esposito took the opening two racks of the finals, but Corona came right back to tie. Corona took the fifth rack, establishing a lead he'd never relinquish and would expand to four games by the end. Esposito chalked up his third and last rack to draw within one at 4-3, and Corona finished with three racks.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Cue Bar & 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 Tri-State event, scheduled for Sunday, September 13, will be hosted by Steinway Cafe & Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.

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.