Luis Lopez, Jason Sheerman, Greg Matos and Jimmy Acosta
No one has ever repeated as the champion of the annual George “Ginky” Sansouci Memorial’s Amateur Tournament. Raj Vannala was the event’s inaugural champion in 2011, and after that, it was won by Daniel Dagotdot, Michael Yednak, Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, Rhys Chen, Tony Liang, and Phil Davis. Last year, Lukas Fracasso-Verner won the title and was the only one of the previous eight champions to compete this year. Delimelkonoglu and Yednak competed in the Open/Pro event. The amateur event maintained its ‘unique winner’ tradition at the 9th annual Ginky Memorial, held this past Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27). Jason Sheerman, defeated in an early round by Jimmy Acosta, won seven on the loss side to meet and defeat Acosta in the finals and become the 9th unique amateur to win the Ginky Memorial. Sheerman had cashed in two previous Ginky Memorial appearances, finishing 25th in 2017 and 17th in 2016. The tournament’s namesake would be proud to know that his annual memorial tournament has crowned a new amateur winner every year since the event was inaugurated. This year’s $2,000-added Amateur event, held under the combined auspices of the Predator Pro Am, Tri-State and Mezz Pr Tours, drew a record 169 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.
The Open/Pro side of the 9th Annual Ginky Memorial was won by Alex Kazakis, who went undefeated through a field of 36 entrants, downing Jayson Shaw in the finals (see separate story). Shaw, by the way, was looking for his third Ginky Memorial title, having been one of only two competitors to have won the Open/Pro side of the event twice, in 2015 & 2017. Mike Dechaine won the inaugural Open/Pro event in 2011, was runner-up to Earl Strickland in 2012, and won it a second time in 2014.
In this year’s Amateur event, the 169 entrants were initially divided into upper and lower handicap brackets, merging only as the event drew near the end. With Sheerman already at work on the loss side, Acosta advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Mike Saleh. Greg Matos, in the meantime, squared off against Jim Gutierrez.
Acosta got into the hot seat match with a 7-4 victory over Saleh and was joined by Matos, who’d sent Gutierrez to the loss side 7-3. Acosta claimed the hot seat 8-6 over Matos and waited (though not for very long) on what turned out to be the return of Sheerman.
It was Saleh who picked up Sheerman, four wins into his loss-side streak that had most recently included a 7-4 win over Juan Guzman, and 8-5 win over Andrew Lee. Gutierrez drew Luis Lopez, who’d defeated Mac Jankov 6-4 and Bob Mapes 7-5 to reach him.
Sheerman chalked up his fifth loss-side win 7-1 over Saleh. He was joined in the quarterfinals by Lopez, who’d eliminated Gutierrez 6-3.
Win #6 for Sheerman sent Lopez to the figurative showers 10-5. Win #7 did the same to Greg Matos, who was eliminated 9-7.
As it turned out, the quarterfinals and hot seat match were happening simultaneously in this event, going into Monday evening. So, when Matos fell to Acosta in the hot seat match, the semifinals started immediately (this was happening just as the finals of the Open/Pro event were getting underway). So, Acosta didn’t have a lot of time in the hot seat to think about the fact that the competitor he’d sent to the loss side in what must have seemed like a lifetime ago, was on the verge of earning a rematch. And earn it he did.
Sheerman took full advantage of his second chance against Acosta. He defeated him 9-7 to become the 9th different player to capture the George “Ginky” Sansouci Memorial Amateur title.
Event director Tony Robles thanked Manny Stamatakis and his entire Steinway Billiards staff, who worked tirelessly, professionally and with remarkable grace throughout a long weekend with over 200 pool players and a contingent of venue regulars who spent time playing chess and backgammon at nearby tables. Robles also acknowledged his regular tour sponsors, including Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, PlayNAPL.com, Capelle (Billiards Press.com), PoolontheNet.com, The DeVito Team, as well as the cooperation of the other sponsoring tours (Tri-State and Mezz Tours) and the tireless, non-stop live stream operated by Upstate Al and his broadcast team.
Robles also made note to all in attendance of the defining fact that this annual event is held each year in memory of George “Ginky” Sansouci, who passed away in 2011, and whose legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of innumerable players in the New York area and wherever “Ginky” played. The event was attended by members of the Sansouci family, who were accorded ‘front row’ seating privileges for all of the live-streamed matches and remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Ginky’s life with a living, breathing memorial to his influence on the game and the people who continue to play it.
Neil Walmsley, to the best of our ‘records’ knowledge, has cashed three times on the Tri-State Tour in the past nine years. He has won two of those three events. He was runner-up to Raj Vannala at an event in January, 2009. Four years later, he stopped an eight-match, loss-side bid by Yomaylin “Smiley” Feliz to capture his first Tri-State title. On Sunday, September 16, Walmsley was defeated in a winners’ side semifinal match against Seam Emmitt, who was looking for his first Tri-State title, and came back to defeat him in the finals to claim his second title. The $1000-added event drew 26 entrants to Clifton Billiards (site of Walmsley’s previous win) in Clifton, NJ.
Following victories over Ilija Trajeski, Joe Mazzeo and David Schaffer, Walmsley advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Emmitt. Ralph Ramos, Jr., in the meantime, who’d defeated Joshua Joseph, and his own father, Ralph Ramos, Sr., squared off against Dax Druminski in the other winners’ side semifinal.
Emmitt handed Walmsley what could easily been a confidence-shattering defeat 7-1 and advanced to the hot seat match. He was joined by Ramos, Jr., who sent Druminski west 7-4. Emmitt defeatEd Ramos, Jr. 8-5 and sat in the hot seat, waiting on Walmsley.
On the loss side, Walmsley opened his loss-side campaign against Tri Chau, who’d defeated Schaffer 7-3 and survived a double hill match against Joseph, to reach him. Druminski picked up Ramos, Sr., who followed his son’s victory over him with victories of his own over Bob Toomey and Mac Jankov, both 6-2.
Walmsley downed Chau 7-2, as Ramos, Sr. was busy eliminating Druminski 6-2. At this point, two intriguing possibilities existed for the finals, two matches away. There was either going to be a father/son semifinal, or Walmsley was going to have to defeat father and then son to get to Emmitt in the hot seat.
It was the second of those two which played out. Walmsely downed Dad 8-5 and then, defeated Junior in a double hill match, which gave him a second shot at Emmitt. Reversing the fortunes of their winners’ side final match, Walmsley claimed his second Tri-State title with a 9-3 win.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Phil Cappelle, Blue Book Publishing, Human Kinetics, Pool & Billiards, Professor Q Ball, Bender Cues and DIGICUE OB. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23 will be an 8-Ball event, hosted by Shooters Family Billiards in Wayne, NJ.
Junior Singh, Ramon Rodriguez, Amy Yu and Phil Davis
Phil Davis became the 7th different player to win the Amateur event of the Annual George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial Tournament, held this past weekend – May 27-29 – at Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY. Held under the combined auspices of the Predator Pro Am, Tri-State and Mezz Tours, the event featured its usual array of amateur-status talent. Last year's winner, Tony Liang, was out of this one early, leaving the door open for Davis to go undefeated and follow (in order) Raj Vannala, Daniel Dagotdot, Mike Yednak, Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, Rhys Chen and Liang into the Ginky Memorial history book.
Attendance at this annual event has grown steadily over the years, although the numbers did drop a little this year; from 190 to 165 in the $2,000-added Amateur event, and from 54 to 44 in the $2,000-added Pro event, which, by the way, was won by Jayson Shaw (see separate story). Last year's winner, Zion Zvi, like Tony Liang in the Amateur event, was knocked out early.
Both events were streamed live throughout the weekend by AZBTv, sponsored by Blatt Billiards, and featuring the commentary of Upstate Al and a host of guest commentators.
The 165-entrant Amateur tournament divided the players up into two separate brackets of A players and B-D players. They did not meet until the very end. Amy Yu won the B-D bracket, while Ramon Rodriguez won the A bracket. Davis, defeated early by Rodriguez, came back on the loss side to defeat him and advance to the finals against Yu.
As the event moved into the 9/12 matches, only one previous Ginky Memorial champion remained, Rhys Chen, who, after a 7-5 victory over James Conn, was knocked out by Koka Davladze 8-6. Davladze, who'd previously eliminated James Stevens 9-6 advanced to meet Davis in the 5/6 matches. Junior Singh, in the meantime, having defeated Neven Lipovac 7-4, and Benny Rosado 7-5, picked up Gary Bozigian.
Davis and Singh advanced to the quarterfinals; Davis 7-1 over Davladze, and Singh 7-5 over Bozigian. Davis took the quarterfinal match over Singh 9-5, and then, in a re-match against Rodriguez, downed him 7-5 for a shot at Amy Yu.
He took full advantage. Giving six racks to Yu in a race to 13, Davis completed his loss side run with a 13-8 victory to claim the 7th George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial title.
Event director Tony Robles, as he is every year at this time, was demonstrably appreciative of the effort put forth by representatives from the Tri-State and Mezz Tours, as well as the ownership and staff at Steinway Billiards. In addition to thanks offered to Blatt Billiards (BlattBilliards.com) for their sponsorship of the live stream, Robles also thanked sponsors Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, PlayNAPL.com, PoolOnTheNet.com, Cappelle (BilliardsPress.com), and the DeVito team.
Following in the footsteps of (in order) Raj Vannala, Daniel Dagotdot, Mike Yednak, Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, and Rhys Chen, Tony Liang became the sixth Amateur competitor to win the annual George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial Tournament. Liang came from deep on the loss side to challenge and defeat hot seat occupant Juan Guzman in the finals of the $2,000-added Amateur 9-Ball event that drew 190 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY. Combined with the 53 entrants in the $2,000-added Open-Pro event (separate story), the 6th Annual Ginky Memorial drew a record 243 entrants; three above the 2105 total.
The 190 entrants in the Amateur event were initially divided into two, 128-entrant brackets by ranking; one bracket for the A, A+ and B+ players, and one, for the B and below. Two players from each advanced to the winners' side final four. Juan Guzman (an A player) faced Eddie Kunz (B+), as Erick Carrasco (C) squared off against Rene Villalobos (B). Guzman and Villalobos advanced to the hot seat match; Guzman 7-3 over Kunz and Villalobos, 7-5 over Carrasco. Guzman won his last match, claiming the hot seat 7-4 over Villalobos and waited on Liang.
On the loss side, Liang survived a double hill match versus the 2014 winner, Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, and eliminated Shawn Sookhai 7-3 to pick up Kunz. Carrasco drew Chickie Romero who'd eliminated Marshall Piercy 7-5 and Joe Torres 7-4, to reach him.
Liang eliminated Kunz 7-5, as Carrasco was busy surviving a double hill fight against Romero. Liang took the quarterfinal match versus Carrasco 10-8 and earned his slot in the finals with an 8-6 win over Villalobos in the semifinals. He completed his long, loss-side run by first, extending the final race to 9 games by reaching 7 games first, and then winning two more to claim the event title over runner-up Juan Guzman 9-6.
In addition to thanking everyone who came down to Steinway Billiards to honor George "Ginky" Sansouci, Tony Robles thanked both the Tri-State and Mezz Tours for their cooperation and assistance, along with Steinway Billiards' owner, Manny Stamatakis, and his staff. He also extended his thanks to sponsors Predator Cues, National Amateur Pool League, Ozone Billiards, Delta-13 racks, Gotham City Technologies, PoolOnTheNet.com, The DeVito Team, Billiards Press, AZ Billiards, Billiards Digest, and Pool & Billiard Magazine. He also thanked William Finnegan, Mandy Wu, and Irene Kim for their assistance with the tournament, as well as his wife, Gail Robles.
Hopkins wins Women's Open 9-Ball, Brown takes One-Pocket Title
Dennis Orcollo went undefeated through a field of 64 entrants, on-hand for the 23rd Annual Super Billiards Expo's $9,000-added Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship, held on the weekend of April 16-19 at the Greater Philadelphia Center in Oaks, PA. Over the past three years, Shane Van Boening had defeated Stevie Moore (2012), Thorsten Hohmann (2013) and Tommy Kennedy (2014) in the finals of this event. This year, however, Orcollo defeated him in the hot seat match, and Jayson Shaw foiled his attempt at a rematch against Orcollo by defeating him in the semifinals.
Orcollo's path to the hot seat went through Patrick Carosi, Danny Olson, Rodney Morris, Johnny Archer, and, in the winners' side semifinal, Hohmann, before he handed Van Boening his first of two straight losses. Van Boening had gone through Francis Crevier, Beppu Kenji, Corey Deuel, Mika Immonen and, in the other winners' side semifinal, Warren Kiamco, before he ran into Orcollo, never to return.
The other two runner-ups from the last three years were on-hand, as well. Tommy Kennedy, last year's runner-up went two and out, falling to Scott Frost in the opening round, and Yu-Huan Kevin Chang in the first loss-side round. Moore, 2012's runner-up, was defeated in the opening round by Kevin Clark, and then, defeated Raj Vannala, Michael Yednak and Dan Cintron, before falling to Corey Deuel in the fourth loss-side round. Hohmann defeated, in order, Tim Murray, Justin Bergman, Mike Dechaine and Darren Appleton to earn himself a winners' side final four matchup against Orcollo. Orcollo sent him west where he picked up his second straight loss versus Mike Dechaine.
Shaw, who faced Orcollo in the finals, defeated Alan Rolon, and Lee Kang on the winners' side before Warren Kiamco sent him to the loss side. Shaw then ran the gauntlet through a seven-match, loss-side winning streak that was arguably as tough as any set of opponents faced by any of the event's competitors. He got by Jeremy Sossei, Hunter Lombardo, Darren Appleton, and Johnny Archer, before successfully navigating his re-match against Kiamco. He then defeated Dechaine and Van Boening to earn his spot in the finals.
The Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship was the marquee event of four held over the weekend. Dawn Hopkins came from the loss side and defeated Caroline Pao in the finals of the $2,800-added Women's Open 9-Ball Players Championship that drew 28 entrants, and Jason Brown took the $2,200-added One Pocket event that was expanded to include 48 entrants.
The weekend also featured four Amateur events; an Open event, won by Alex Olinger, that drew a record-breaking 960 entrants, a Senior Division (age 50+), won by Dennis Spears, that drew 384, a Super Seniors Division (age 65+), won by Warner Burton, that drew 128, and a Women's Division, won by Brianna Miller, that drew 160.
Further detailed reports on the Super Billiards Expo, to include more complete reports about the Women's, One-Pocket and Amateur events will follow, soon.
Mike Dechaine has appeared in three out of the four finals of the annual George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial Tournament, and now, after the event's first appearance on Memorial Day weekend, he's won two out of those three; both times, going undefeated and both times, coming from behind in the finals to win it. He won the first Ginky Memorial in 2011, defeating Dennis Hatch 11-9, after being down 8-6. In 2012, Earl Strickland defeated him in the finals. Dechaine did not compete in the 2013 Ginky Memorial; won by Mike Davis, defeating Dennis Hatch in the finals. Dechaine returned this year to claim his second title, this time, defeating The Iceman, Mika Immonen in the finals. The $2,000-added, Open/Pro tournament at this year's event drew 50 entrants to Steinway Billiards, in Astoria, Queens.
Three years after winning his first tournament on the Tri-State Tour, Kapriel Delimelkonoglu went undefeated to capture the $2,000-added, Amateur side of the Ginky Memorial, which drew a full field of 128 entrants. The Amateur event has crowned four separate champions since 2011 – Raj Vannala, Daniel Dagotdot, Mike Yednak and now, Delimelkonoglu.
In the Open/Pro competition, Dechaine moved among the winners' side final four for a match against Danny Mastermaker, currently ranked at # 8 on the Action Pool Tour, as Mhet Vergara faced Adam Smith, winner of last year's Pennsylvania 9-Ball Championships. Dechaine sent Mastermaker to the losers' bracket 8-5 and in the battle for the hot seat, faced Smith, who'd defeated Vergara by the same score. Dechaine defeated Smith 8-4 and found himself in the Ginky Memorial hot seat for the third time.
On the loss side, The Iceman, after being defeated by Smith in a winners' side quarterfinal defeated Jonathan Smith 8-6 and Hunter Lombardo 8-1 to draw Mastermaker. Vergara, in the meantime, drew Jayson Shaw, who'd lost to Immonen in the opening round, and was on a seven-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him to the quarterfinals. Shaw downed Karen Corr (the only woman playing in the Open/Pro event) 8-5 and Frankie Hernandez 8-4 to meet Vergara.
Shaw's final win of the day came against Vergara 8-2 as Immonen was busy eliminating Mastermaker 8-5. Immonen took the quarterfinal match against Shaw in a tight, double hill battle, and then downed Smith in the semifinals 8-6.
The final match – a modified race-to-11 (if Immonen reached 11 games first, match would extend to 13) – was a blend of rack running and safety play that went back and forth through its early and middle stages. The Iceman pulled ahead by two, as he reached the extension 'hill' of 10 games, but Dechaine locked in and took the next three to reach 11 games first and claim the event title.
In the Amateur event, Delimelkonoglu worked his way through to a winners' side semifinal against Glenn Ramsey, as John Ortiz faced ChristIan Smith in the other. Delimelkonoglu survived a double hill battle against Ramsey, as Ortiz downed Smith 7-4. Delimlekonoglu got into the hot seat 7-4 over Ortiz and awaited his return from the semifinals.
Ramsey and Smith got right back to work on the loss side; Ramsey downing teenager Thomas Rice in a double hill battle, as Smith eliminated Lidio Ramirez 7-5. Smith took the quarterfinal match 7-3, but had his bid for a shot against Delimelkonoglu stopped by Ortiz 7-5 in the semifinals. Delimelkonoglu completed his undefeated run with a 9-7, second win over Ortiz to claim the Ginky Memorial's fourth Amateur title.
If you didn't know better, you'd swear that the Tri-State Tour was somehow or other designed to add a new name to the winners' list, every week. While you do get your regular, repeat customers, the number of times you see a new name far outnumbers the list of regulars. Some of this is attributable to the players on the tour who excel and move into Open/Pro status. Sometimes, it's about geography; certain players show up on the tour when it stops at certain locations. Then, too, there's the unpredictability about the game itself, which lends itself to a variation on the "any given Sunday" theme, which dictates that at a certain level of competition, anyone can emerge as the winner.
On Sunday, January 26, at a $750-added event, hosted by House of Billiards on Staten Island, Miguel Laboy worked his way through a field of 27 to add his name to the Tri-State's ever-expanding list of winners. He did so at the expense of Dennis Kennedy, one of the tour's former winners (February '12), and owner of the host location. Laboy took him down twice; once in the hot seat and again, in the finals.
After a double hill start against Giovani Hosang, Laboy moved on to defeat Marco Dy and Annie Flores, before facing the "ever-dangerous" Gary O'Callaghan in one of the winners' side semifinals. Kennedy met up with Quin Y. Chen in the other. Laboy downed O'Callaghan handily 7-1, as Kennedy was moving into the hot seat match with a 6-4 win over Chen. Laboy took the first of his two against Kennedy 6-4 and sat in the hot seat, awaiting his return.
O'Callaghan moved over to face Raj Vannala, who'd defeated Justin Muller 7-4 and Marco Costello 7-5. Chen picked up Tony Ignomirello (another Tri-State, winners' circle veteran), who was in the midst of a six-win, loss-side winning streak that would carry him all the way to the semifinals. He got by Yagif Alekberov 6-2 and Pat Mareno 6-4 to draw Ignomirello. Both winners' side semifinalists – O'Callaghan and Chen – went down; O'Callaghan 7-5 to Vannala and Chen 6-1 to Ignomirello.
Ignomirello survived a double hill battle against Vannala in the quarterfinals, only to be shut out by a determined Kennedy in the semifinals. Former winner versus new name was on, and in light of the tour's penchant for chalking up new names on the list of winners, you'd have had to give Laboy the edge.
Kennedy didn't think so, and he jumped out to a 4-0 lead, before Laboy checked in with a couple. Kennedy came back to chalk up his fifth, and Laboy promptly fought back with three to tie, and one more to take his first lead at 6-5. Kennedy would win only one more, as Laboy advanced to claim the event title 9-6.
Tour representatives thanked Kennedy and his staff at House of Billiards, along with sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod, Heptig Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for February 1, will be hosted by Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.
The opening round of most any major tournament is normally devoid of drama as the seeded players rarely have to face off against anyone of consequence. The U.S Open is no exception to that rule, but Monday did find a match that had the room buzzing. The always dependable and strong Larry Nevel came to his match against Monica Webb a favorite, but Ms. Webb played a flawless match. Once tied at three she then put down a four-pack to lead Nevel 7-3 in their race to 11 games. She then simply refused to give up control of the table and Nevel just never got an opportunity to find his gear. At the end Webb put together three wins in a row to take the match down 11-4.
Another match that had the room abuzz, though not in a positive manner, was the match between Michael Wong and Michael Yednak. Both men played in slo-mo and the match, scheduled for two hours, took three hours and forty minutes. Two matches that started in the round after this match actually finished before the two Mikes could reach a conclusion. Yednak finally won 11-9.
The reminder of the morning rounds went as would be expected with the heavy-hitters pushing the cannon fodder out of the way as they made their way to the right of the charts.
The evening session saw three more abbreviated rounds of play. The 6:30 round featured a great match up between Stevie Moore and Japan's Kenichi Uchigaki. Uchigaki took an early lead, but Moore found his stroke and clawed back to take the lead in the middle section of the match. That only served to spur on Uchigaki, as he quickly retook the lead and did not relinquish it on his way to an 11-9 win.
The final match of the night was well worth staying for for, as young Jesse Engel looked to be having all sort of problems dealing with East Coast regular Raj Vannala. Vannala held an 8-4 lead and looked to be in control, when the wheels started to fall off. Sensing weakness, Engel ground Vannala down and won seven straight games for the 11-8 victory.
It's been over a year since Keith Diaz won a stop on the Tri-State Tour; his last, an April 15, 2012, undefeated run through a field of 53 at Eastside Billiards in Manhattan was also his first. He stopped a seven-match, loss-side winning streak by Raj Vannala to win that event. On Saturday, August 17 at the Cue Bar in Bayside, Queens, Diaz won five on the loss side to meet and defeat hot seat occupant Tomasz Bak and claim the event title. The $1,000-added, A-D handicapped event drew 41 entrants.
Diaz survived an opening round, double hill match against Debra Pritchett, and defeated Alberto Sanchez 7-2, before running into Adrian Daniel among the winners' side final eight. Daniel sent him west 7-2 and moved into a winners' side semifinal against Jamiyl Adams. Bak, in the meantime, squared off against Basdeo Sookhai. Bak sent Sookhai over 7-5, and in the hot seat match, met up with Adams, who'd downed Daniel 6-2. Bak took the hot seat battle 8-4 and waited on Diaz.
On the loss side, Diaz met up with the previous week's winner, Ed Lum, and defeated him 6-4. He followed with a 6-3 win over Chris Soto-Chimelis, which set him up for a re-match against Adrian Daniel. Sookhai drew Adrian Daniel's son, Meshak Daniel, who'd gotten by Dave Shlemperis 7-2, and survived a double hill fight against Steve Wright.
Diaz wreaked his vengeance on the elder Daniel 6-3, and in the quarterfinals, met up with his son, who'd eliminated Sookhai 7-4. Diaz then eliminated Meshak Daniel 7-4 and gave up only a single rack in the semifinal match against Jamiyl Adams.
Diaz came out of the finals gate in a hurry, chalking up eight up in a row before Bak managed to win a rack. Bak took two in a row, but it was all he took, as Diaz came back with two of his own to win the match and event title 10-2.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Cue Bar, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod, Heptig Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour will be the third annual George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial Tournament, scheduled for August 31-September 2 at Steinway Billiards in Astoria, NY. The annual tournament is a combined effort between the Tri-State and Predator Tours, at which, this year, Earl Strickland in the Open category and Daniel Dagotdot in the Amateur event, will look to repeat as champions.
Qi Liu defeated Andrew Cleary twice, once in the battle for the hot seat and again in the finals, to take top honors in the Predator Tour’s A-B handicapped event on the weekend of June 2-3. The $500-added event drew 52 entrants to Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY.
In the winners’ side semifinals, Liu sent Raj Vannala west 7-6, as Cleary was busy defeating John Greslik 7-5. Liu took the hot seat match 10-8 and waited for Cleary to come back.
On the loss-side, Vannala met up with Giovanni Hosang, who’d defeated Shawn Sookhai and Lionel Rivera, both 7-5, to reach him. Greslik drew Charles Young, who’d gotten by Tony Ignomirello, double hill, and Steve Wade 7-3. Young made Greslik’s loss-side trip short with a 7-3 victory, as Vannala downed Hosang 7-5. In the quarterfinals that followed, Young ended Vannala’s weekend 8-6.
Cleary, though, finished Young’s loss-side streak with a 7-4 victory that gave him a second crack at Liu. Cleary battled in the single set finals, but Liu prevailed 10-9 to capture the event title.
