Eight of the last fourteen matches played at the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series stop on Sunday, February 26 were double hill battles, including the hot seat, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The winner, Jeremy Sossei, who won seven straight on the loss-side to compete in the finals, was involved in three of those final four. The $350-added event drew 23 entrants to World Championship Billiards in Manchester, CT.
Sossei was sent west in an early round by Bobby Tuska, who moved on to the winners’ side final four and a match against Eric Tang. Steve Mack, in the meantime, squared off against Jason Conner. Tang won a double hill match over Tuska, as Mack sent Conner west 7-2. Tang got locked up in his second straight double hill match versus Mack, and won that, as well, leaving him in the hot seat, waiting on Sossei.
With two behind him on the loss side, Sossei shut out Irvin Simkins, and survived a double hill battle over Tom Torres, for the right to face Conner. Tuska faced Bob Madengin, who’d defeated Charlie Matarazzo 7-3 and survived his own double hill battle against Kevin Baccio. Sossei didn’t give up a single rack in the match against Conner that sent him to the quarterfinals. Madengin spoiled the potential Sossei/Tuska re-match with a 7-3 victory over Tuska.
Sossei then won three straight double hill matches to secure the event title. He defeated Madengin in the quarterfinals, and then, Mack in the semifinals for a chance at Tang in the hot seat. He completed the event with a double hill win over Tang in the finals.
On the weekend of February 11-12, 2012 the East Coast Pool Tour hosted the 7th annual Larry Lisciotti Memorial at Branford Cue and brew in Branford CT. The $500 added event drew 46 players to the even race to 7 two day tournament.
On the A/B side of the bracket saw Jeremy Sossei cruising to the finals after a close first round hill hill match with Chuck Altomare. After that, Jeremy beat Tommy Seminaro Jr. 7-2, Brent Boemmels 7-0 and then Clint Thompson 7-1 to secure his spot in the hot seat match.
The C/D side of the Bracket saw a battle of hill hill matches. It was Eric Graven (C+) that fought his way to the hot seat match against Jeremy. Eric had wins over Dave Corley, Mike Zingarella, and Jeff Geremia
The hot seat match saw Jeremy Sossei take complete control from the start winning 7-1 against Eric Graven.
On the loser side of the bracket it was Steve Mack (A) coming back after losing his first match to Brent Boemmels 7-6, winning 9 matches in a row to play Jeremy in the finals. On his way back to the finals he beat Tom Torres, Rob Persia, John Ortiz, Phil Davis, Brent Boemmels, Lance Lisciotti 7-5, Clint Thompson 7-4, Dave Corley 7-5 Eric Graven 7-3.
Throughout the tournament Jeremy Sossei seemed to be the player to beat who looked to be playing perfect pool. He proved his point in the finals cruising to a 7-0 victory break and running 4 racks in the set. Jeremy pocketed $650 for first place while Mack settled with $440 for second place.
The break contest saw Damien Provost winning the $800 Greg Kucharski custom cue that was generously donated to the tournament.
Tom Torres used two 9-7 victories over Niko Berdzenishvili to go undefeated at the A-D handicapped event of the Empire State Championships on the weekend of February 18-19. The $2,000-added amateur event drew 100 entrants to Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, NY.
They met first in the battle for the hot seat, once Niko had sent Tony Ignomirello west 7-2, and Torres had sent Victor Nau over 7-5. Torres chalked up his first 9-7 victory, which left him in the hot seat, awaiting Niko’s return.
It was Nau and Ignomirello advancing to the quarterfinals; Nau with a double hill win over Reyes, and Ignomirello with a 7-5 victory over Lawrence. Nau won a second straight double hill match in his victory over Ignomirello in the quarterfinals, but fell short in his third straight double hill match, falling to Niko in the semifinals.
With Torres in the hot seat, Niko needed to reach nine games first to extend the final race to 11. Torres, though, repeated his hot seat score, completing his undefeated day with a 9-7 victory to capture the amateur side of the Empire State Championships.
Tour director Tony Robles thanked the ownership and staff of Raxx Billiards for their hospitality, and sponsors Predator Cues, The National Amateur Pool League, Delta-13 racks, Poison Cues, PoolOnTheNet.com, and NYCGrind.
