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Cabral/Murphy & Benson/Eline opt to split top prizes on NE 9-Ball Partners Tournament

l to r: Jessie Murphy, Francisco Cabral, Ben Benson, Matt Eline, Ned McConnell, and Lida Mullendore

Francisco Cabral and Jessie Murphy, sitting in the hot seat, opted out of a second and final match against Ben Benson and Matt Meline during the Saturday, April 8 Partners Tournament, stop (#22) on the New England 9-Ball Series. The event drew 53 teams of two to Snookers in Providence, RI.

 
The two pairs of competitors met first in the hot seat match. Cabral/Murphy had defeated the team of Sal Midolo and Lance Liscotti, double hill, in one winners’ side semifinal, as the team of Benson/Eline was downing Rob Diehl and Austin Ross 5-3 in the other one. Cabral/Murphy grabbed the hot seat, and as it turned out, their final match, in a shutout over Benson/Eline.
 
On the loss side, Midolo/Liscotti picked up Josh Gormly and Ted Psarros, who’d defeated Ken Ludy/Steve Bergin, double hill, and Keith Platt/Stan McLean 4-2. Diehl and Ross drew Lida Mullendore and Ned McConnell, who’d eliminated Carlton Gagnon/Mike Olcott, double hill, and Charlie Matarazzo/Mike Negrelli 7-2.
 
Midoli/Liscotti got into the quarterfinals with a 6-3 win over Gormly/Psarros. They were joined by Mullendore/McConnell, who’d eliminated Diehl/Ross 5-3.
 
Mullendor/McConnell then shut out Midolo/Liscotti. In the subsequent, straight-up race to 5 in the semifinals, Benson and Eline earned a second shot at Cabral and Murphy with a 5-2 win over Mullendore/McConnell. The last two teams opted out of a final match, potentially two, and split the top two prizes. As occupants of the event’s hot seat, Cabral and Murphy claimed the official event title.
 
Tour director Marc Dionne thanked the ownership and staff at Snookers, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Molinari, Bert Kinister, AZBilliards, Inside English, Professor Q-Ball’s National and 3-Cushion News, Delta 13 Racks, MJS Construction, Bob Campbell, Championship Cloth, and OTLVISE Billiard Mechanics of America. The next stop on the New England 9-Ball Series (#23), scheduled for Saturday, April 21, will be a $500-added event, hosted by Yale Billiards in Wallingford, CT.

Oliviera goes undefeated to take Viking Cues New England 9-Ball Challenge in Providence, RI

Nelson Oliviera had to get by Joey Dupuis twice to capture the New England 9-Ball Challenge on Saturday, April 28. He did just that, sending Dupuis west from among the winners’ side final four, and when Dupuis came back, he defeated him a second time in the finals. The event drew 45 entrants to Rhode Island Billiards, Bar & Bistro in North Providence, RI.

Once he’d dispatched Dupuis west 9-4, Oliviera turned to face Tom McGonagle in the battle for the hot seat. McGonagle had just sent Ted Psarros over 9-3. Oliviera got into the hot seat with a 9-3 win over McGonagle and waited for what turned out to be Dupuis’ return.

First up for Dupuis on his three-match march to the finals was Kevin Sun, who’d defeated David Murphy 7-2, and Randy LaBonte 7-5. Psarros had the misfortune of running into Steven Roy, who’d lost his opening round match versus Ty Speedwell, and was in the midst of a five-match winning streak that would get him into the quarterfinals. Roy defeated Marty Herman and Rich Senna, both 7-5 to reach Psarros. Dupuis eliminated Sun 9-5, and Roy ended his five-match, loss-side streak with a shutout over Psarros.

Dupuis, in turn, ended Roy’s streak with a 9-5, quarterfinal victory. He followed that up with a 9-4, semifinal victory over McGonagle, which gave him a second chance against Oliviera. The wait aside, Oliviera picked up right where he’d left off. He allowed Dupuis only a single rack in the only set necessary to capture the event title.

Rhode Island Billiards, Bar & Bistro owner Anthony Costanzo thanked Viking Cues, Jim Beam and Budweiser for their assistance in sponsoring this event.