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10th Annual N.E. Pool & Billiards Hall of Fame Event This Weekend

Dear Players & Fans,
 
Congratulations to stop 9 winners, Dave Grau (Main Event, $1,000), Aaron Cameron (Second Chance Event, $300) & Bob Simmons & Phil Johnson , ($1,500 Joss Cue Raffle Winner)
 
Snookers Billiards Sports Bar & Grill (Providence R.I.) and Mike Zuglan"s Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour are proud to present the 10th Annual New England Pool & Billiards Hall Of Fame Ray Desell Memorial 9-Ball Open. In addition to the actual tournament which will take place on Saturday March 2 & Sunday March 3, there will also be a Hall of Fame presentation ceremony on Friday evening March 1 at 6pm. All inductees will receive plaques in the New England Pool & Billiards Hall Of Fame located at, maintained by, and funded by Snookers. This is just one more way that our hosts Regina & Steve Goulding continue to show their devotion and generosity to our sport. Also, Tom McGonagle deserves much credit for his time and effort in gathering the information, pictures and supervising the inductee process. You will be able to view the entire weekend's events via a free live stream for the Hall Of Fame ceremony on Friday evening and a Pay Per View for the tournament on Saturday & Sunday. PPV prices are only $1.99 per day or $2.99 for the 2 day pass. The stream can be accessed on Snookers home site: www.snookersri.com
 
Snookers is also one of the best restaurants in the Providence area. Check them out at www.snookersri.com and thanks again to Steve & Regina for putting up the $3,000 added, and once again allowing us the use of their great room for our event. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers in the main event. Also, Whether you come to play, or just watch, you will have the opportunity to win a gorgeous, custom, engraved Joss Cue, valued at $1,500, by participating in Snookers cue raffle. Anyone can participate  and you don't have to be present to win! The drawing will be just prior to the final match of the main event on Sunday. So come on down and play and win, watch for free, have some great food and drink, and take a chance at a $1,500 Joss Cue.  
 
This gorgeous raffle cue can be viewed here: https://josscues.com/joss-tour-2018-19-cue/
 
Snookers has arranged a special rate of $99 + Tax (based on availability) at the Holiday Inn Express just a few miles away in Warwick RI. 401-736-5000 mention Snookers. 
 
This event at Snookers will consist of a $2,500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry Fee $120 for pro level or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added consolation event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro players eliminated from the main event on Saturday 
 
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday March 2 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 season finale, the $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXX II 9-Ball Open, is scheduled for August 22 – 25. I am currently accepting entries and strongly suggest that you pay your entry early to avoid being shut out. Entry fee for this great event is only $150 for Current tour members and only $200 for all others. As you can see, membership has its privileges! If you would like to enter, please contact Mike Zuglan at 518-356-7163 or see me at any of our Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour regular season events before it is full. Currently I am just over 3/4 full!!!!
 
Lastly, I can't stress enough how important it is for all of you to please frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the services of our most generous sponsors who are the backbone of our sport. These are the ones who keep our sport alive. So get out and play! 
 
Mike Zuglan
 
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
 
Joss Cues – http://www.josscues.com
Turning Stone Resort Casino – http://www.turningstone.com 
Simonis Cloth – http://www.simoniscloth.com
Poolonthenet.com – http://www.poolonthenet.com
AzBilliards.com – http://www.azbilliards.com
Aramith – http://www.aramith.com
Billiards Press – http://www.billiardspress.com                 
World Class Cue Care – http://www.jnj-industries.com
FargoRate – http://www.fargorate.com

 

Joss Tour, March 3 & 4, $2,500/$500 Added, Snookers, Providence RI

Congratulations to stop 9 winners, Dave Dreidel (Main Event, $1,000), Chris Braiman (Second Chance Event, $300) & Phil Johnson ($1,200 Joss Cue Raffle Winner)
 
Snookers Billiards Sports Bar & Grill (Providence R.I.) and Mike Zuglan"s Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour are proud to present the 9th Annual New England Pool & Billiards Hall Of Fame Ray Desell Memorial 9-Ball Open. In addition to the actual tournament which will take place on Saturday March 3 & Sunday March 4, there will also be a Hall of Fame presentation ceremony on Friday evening March 2 at 6pm. All inductees will receive plaques in the New England Pool & Billiards Hall Of Fame located at, maintained, and funded by Snookers. This is just one more way that our hosts Regina & Steve Goulding continue to show their devotion and generosity to our sport. Also, Tom McGonagle deserves much credit for his time and effort in gathering the information, pictures and supervising the inductee process. 
 
Snookers is also one of the best restaurants in the Providence area. Check them out at www.snookersri.com and thanks again to Steve & Regina for putting up the $3,000 added, and once again allowing us the use of their great room for our event. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers in the main event. Also, Whether you come to play, or just watch, you will have the opportunity to win a gorgeous, custom, engraved Joss Cue, valued at $1,200, by participating in Snookers cue raffle. Anyone can participate  and you don't have to be present to win! The drawing will be just prior to the final match of the main event on Sunday. So come on down and play and win, watch for free, have some great food and drink, and take a chance at a $1,200 Joss Cue. Can it get any better than that? 
 
This gorgeous raffle cue can be viewed here:   https://josscues.com/cues/custom/joss-custom-26/
 
Snookers has arranged a special rate of $99 + Tax (based on availability) at the Holiday Inn Express just a few miles away in Warwick RI. 401-736-5000 mention Snookers. 
 
This event at Snookers will consist of a $2,500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry Fee $120 for pro level or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added consolation event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro players eliminated from the main event on Saturday.
 
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday March 3 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
 
SCHEDULE UPDATE: Stop # 12 that was previously scheduled at King Smiley Billiards, HAS BEEN MOVED TO Hippos The House Of Billiards (Utica NY) and will be held on the original date of March 17 & 18. Please spread the word to avoid any confusion.
 
Our season finale, the $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXX 9-Ball Open, is scheduled for August 23 – 26, 2018. I am currently accepting entries and strongly suggest that you pay your entry early to avoid being shut out. Entry fee for this great event is only $150 for Current tour members and only $200 for all others. As you can see, membership has its privileges! If you would like to enter, please contact Mike Zuglan at 518-356-7163 or see me at any of our Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour regular season events before it is full. 
 
Lastly, I can't stress enough how important it is for all of you to please frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the services of our most generous sponsors who are the backbone of our sport. These are the ones who keep our sport alive. So get out and play! 
 
Mike Zuglan
 
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
 
Joss Cues – http://www.josscues.com
Turning Stone Resort Casino – http://www.turningstone.com 
Simonis Cloth – http://www.simoniscloth.com
Poolonthenet.com – http://www.poolonthenet.com
AzBilliards.com – http://www.azbilliards.com
Aramith – http://www.aramith.com
Billiards Press – http://www.billiardspress.com                 
World Class Cue Care – http://www.jnj-industries.com

 

Montgomery and Dreidel win Dutch Mill Holiday Classic; 8-Ball and 9-Ball

Geoff Montgomery and Dave Dreidel won their respective events in 8-ball and 9-ball at the Dutch Mill Holiday Classic, held on January 13-14, under the auspices of the Western New York Tour. The two came within a single match of playing against each other in both finals. Each event drew 20 entrants to the Dutch Mill Restaurant, Party House and Pool Room in Greece, NY. Montgomery picked up a second title at a Friday the 13th Warm-Up, a single elimination event, which drew 16 entrants. 
 
As is often, though not always, the case in double elimination tournaments, the finalists met twice in these two events. In the 8-ball tournament, Dan Miosi defeated Montgomery in the hot seat match, only to be unseated by him in a single-game final. Dreidel had been defeated by Montgomery in the opening round of the 8-ball tournament. Dreidel won nine on the loss side to earn a re-match against Montgomery in the semifinals, but a second win sent Montgomery to the finals, where he defeated Miosi. In the 9-ball tournament, Dreidel came back from a loss in the hot seat match to double dip Montgomery in the finals.
 
The Friday night 'warm up,' which featured races to 4, saw Montgomery and Mark Hatch square off in one semifinal, as tour director Nick Brucato faced Phil Johnson in the other. Montgomery shut Hatch out, as Johnson squeaked by Brucato 4-3. Montgomery took the final 4-1 over Johnson to add $400 to his weekend prize package.
 
In the 8-ball event, with Dreidel already long at work on the loss side, Montgomery advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Chris Bassett, while Dan Niosi faced Jeff Purall. Montgomery and Niosi moved into the hot seat match with 3-1 victories, and by that same score, Niosi grabbed the hot seat from Miosi.
 
On the loss side, five matches in to his nine-match streak, Dreidel eliminated Jake Miosi (son to Dan) 3-1, to draw Purall. Bassett picked up Jason DeWolf, who'd just defeated Chad Strong 3-2.
The two loss-side combatants handed the recent arrivals from the winners' side their second straight defeat; Dreidel downing Purall 3-1 and DeWolf defeating Bassett, double hill.
 
Dreidel won the subsequent quarterfinal, double hill, over DeWolf, and got a second shot at Montgomery with a 3-1 victory over Dan Niosi in the semifinals. Montgomery ended Dreidel's streak 3-1 for a second shot against Miosi. That second shot played out in a single game final, won by Montgomery to claim the title. Lynette Cooper and Tracy Roth picked up $65 each as the event's top two female finishers.
 
In the more traditional, double-meet-up way, Dreidel and Montgomery first squared off in the 9-ball event's hot seat match. Montgomery had shut out Jeff Purcell, as Dreidel was busy sending Nick Brucato to the loss side in a double hill fight. In another double hill fight, Montgomery sent Dreidel to the semifinals and sat in the hot seat, having won his final match.
 
On the loss side, Purcell picked up Tracy Roth (on her way to a second 'top two females' cash award), who'd defeated Chad Strong, double hill. Brucato picked up the elder Miosi (Dan), who'd just eliminated Mindy Hagar 3-1 (Hagar picked up the second $30 cash prize for top female finisher). Purcell and Niosi advanced to the quarterfinals; Purcell 3-1 over Roth and Miosi, double hill over Brucato.
 
Purcell took the quarterfinal match 3-1 over Niosi, but had his loss-side streak ended 3-1 by Dreidel in the semifinals. Dreidel completed his much-shorter-this-time loss-side run with a 3-1 victory over Montgomery in the finals.
 

Brucato wins 11 on the loss side, and downs Grau in opening set of Western New York finals

In a rarely-seen triple elimination format, which gives players a third chance at advancing through a tournament bracket, Nick Brucato, tour director of the Western New York Tour, worked his way through a field of 37 to win a Saturday, November 22 event, hosted by East Ridge Billiards in Rochester, NY. The format, in use at this bar table, 8-ball event created a separate loss-side bracket, into which players were moved when they lost a normal loss-side match. In this separate bracket, players met for a single game before advancing, eventually to challenge players in the final stages of the normal loss-side bracket.
 
"We're calling it The Grind 8-Ball series, and it was a success," said Brucato and new tour assistant, Aaron Cameron, of the triple elimination format. "We're going to do six more a year just like it, including one on Saturday, December 20, we're calling the Jingle Grind."
 
Brucato lost his opening match to Seth Tamavoughn, and embarked on an 11-match winning streak that would eventually put him into the finals against Dave Grau. Tamavoughn moved on, eventually advancing to a winners' side semifinal against Lyn Wechsler. Dave Grau and Sean Zen squared off in the other. Grau and Wechsler advanced to the hot seat match, 3-1, over Zen and Tamavoughn. Grau and Wechsler fought a double hill battle that eventually sent Wechsler to  the semifinals.
 
On the loss side, with five notches on his loss-side belt already, Brucato defeated Phil Johnson and tour partner Cameron, both 2-1, to pick up Zen. Tamavoughn drew Chad Strong, who'd gotten by Andre Ianello and Luis Ricio, both 2-1. Tamavoughn and Brucato hooked up for a rematch in the quarterfinals, once Tamavoughn had shut out Strong and Brucato had defeated Zen 2-1. Brucato successfully wreaked his vengeance on Tamavoughn 2-1 and then, in what would have been a double elimination semifinal, shut out Lyn Wechsler 2-0.
 
Wechsler now had to face Strong in a single game. Strong won, but was then defeated in a single game against Ricio.  Ricio now turned to face Brucato in the semifinals, and Brucato defeated him 2-0 for a shot at Grau in the hot seat. Brucato took the opening set 3-2, at which point, he and Grau opted out of a deciding match and split the top prizes.
 
Brucato thanked East Ridge Billiards owner, Sean Zen for his support and hospitality, along with Ozone Billiards for their sponsorship of the event.

Creamer holds off loss-side run by TD Brucato to win Western New York Tour stop

They're quick, unhandicapped races to three on bar box tables; over before you know it. No time for long-term match strategies or tactics, you just get in there, win quick and move on. Or not. Marc Creamer went undefeated through a short field of 16 during the April 26 stop on the Western New York Tour. He got by tour director Nick Brucato early, and then faced him late, in the finals, winning both matches to claim the title. The $100-added event was hosted by the Main Place in Rochester, NY.
 
With Brucato at work on the loss side, Creamer advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Bob Simmons. Dave Grau faced Al McGuin in the other. Grau gave up only one to advance to the hot seat match, while Creamer survived a double hill battle versus Simmons to meet him.
 
Creamer gave up only one in the winners' side final against Grau, and waited for his re-match against Brucato.
 
Brucato was coming on, loss-side strong, giving up only a single rack, over two matches against Jeff White (0) and Phil Johnson (1), to pick up McGuin. Simmons drew Rick Cicotti, who'd gotten by Andre Ianello 3-2 and Jarid Sanders 3-1. Brucato and Cicotti advanced to the quarterfinals with identical 3-1 victories over McGuin and Simmons. 
 
Brucato took the quarterfinal match, double hill, and then gave up only a single rack to Grau in the semifinals, earning his re-match against Creamer. In a single, race to 5, Brucato and Creamer battled to a 4-4 tie, before Creamer completed his undefeated, twice-against-Brucato run to claim the event title.

Brucato wins his own Western New York Tour stop

Nick Brucato won four straight matches at his own Western New York Tour stop on Saturday, March 10. It was enough to win the $150-added event, which drew 10 entrants to Six Pockets in Rochester, NY.

Awarded one of the six byes in the opening round, Brucato went on to defeat Hiro Kanaya 6-4 in the event’s second round, and move among the winners’ side final four, where he faced Andre Ianello, also a recipient of a first round bye and a 4-2 winner over John Kobe. Roger Jackson, who’d defeated Chris Jones 4-2 in an opening round, went on to defeat Steve Hoyt 4-3, to meet Phil Johnson (opening round bye and a 5-2 victory over Don Perdy) among the final four winners.

Brucato defeated Ianello 6-3 and moved into the hot seat match against Johnson, who’d sent Jackson west 5-2. Brucato got into the hot seat with a 6-4 win over Johnson and waited for him to get back from the semifinals.

On the loss side, Ianello picked up Perdy, who’d defeated Jose Montez 4-3, and Steve Hoyt 4-2.   Jackson picked up Kanaya, who’d drawn a bye on the loss side and then defeated John Kobe 4-2. By identical scores of 4-2, Jackson eliminated Kanaya and Ianello defeated Perdy. Ianello took the quarterfinal match against Jackson that followed, also 4-2.

Ianello was a single match away from meeting Brucato a second time, but Johnson spoiled his chance, taking the semifinal by a score of 5-2, and earning the re-match himself. Brucato completed his four-match, undefeated run with a second victory over Johnson 6-3.

Brucato thanked the ownership and staff at Six Pockets for their hospitality as well as Ink.sp for their $200 (total) donation to the prize fund of both the main event and the break and run contest. Phil Johnson’s name was drawn to compete in that break and run event, and failed to make a ball. The prize fund for the next contest will be $195. The Western New York Tour is looking forward to an event in new room – Diamond Bar & Grill in Rockport, NY – schedule for April 14th.