An unexpected and unspecified emergency forced Alex Osipov to shorten the finals of the Tri-State Tour stop on February 26. Sitting in the hot seat, playing that final match against Arturo Reyes, Osipov received an urgent phone call that required him to leave quickly. The two opted to make it a single game, ‘sudden death’ match for the event victory, and it was Reyes who won it. The $1,000-added, A-D handicapped event drew 45 entrants to the Cue Bar in Bayside, NY.

The two had met first in the battle for the hot seat. Osipov had sent Ramon Feliciano west 7-3, while Reyes was busy defeating Wesley Kennedy 7-4. Osipov got into the hot seat with a 7-5 win and waited for the ill-fated final matchup.

Feliciano moved to the loss side and picked up Tony Ignomirello, in the midst of a six-match winning streak that would get him into the semifinals. He (Ignomirello) defeated Jerica Dela Cruz 6-4, and Tyronnie Harlee 7-6 to reach Feliciano. Kennedy drew Bryan Jeziorski, who’d dropped Justin Miller 7-1 and Ed Hugh 7-4.

Jeziorski ended Kennedy’s day 7-1 and moved into the quarterfinals against Ignomirello, who’d defeated Feliciano 6-4. Ignomirello’s winning streak ended with a 7-3 victory over Jeziorski. Reyes won the semifinal match against him 7-5, and then went on to the ‘sudden death’ final game, winning it to capture the event title.

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Cue Bar for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. Next stop on the Tri-State Tour is a $500-added A-D handicapped event, scheduled for March 3 at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.

On Saturday, February 4, Vincent Morris worked his way undefeated through a field of 41 entrants, including Mel McCullen twice, to win his first victory on the Tri-State Tour. The $1,000-added, C/D handicapped 9-Ball event was hosted by Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.

Morris’ seven-match path to the victory saw him win just over twice as many games as he lost (43-21). Wins over Thaddeus Moses, Vincent Loretta, Rick Shellhouse and Andrew Cleary put him among the winners’ side final four, where he faced McCullen for the first time. Joining them for the winners’ side semifinal were Dennis Kennedy and David Danchak. Morris sent McCullen west 6-3 and in the battle for the hot seat, faced Kennedy, who’d defeated Danchak double hill. Morris then sent Kennedy to the semifinals with a 6-3 victory and awaited McCullen’s return.

Both McCullen and Danchak moved to the loss side and faced opponents who’d won two straight double hill matches to reach them. McCullen drew Mishak Daniel, who’d squeaked by Mike Harrington and Tyronnie Harlee. Danchak picked up Randy Mackin, who’d downed both Andrew Cleary and Steve Wade 6-5. McCullen eliminated Daniel 7-3 and was joined in the quarterfinals by Mackin, who’d defeated Danchak 6-3.

McCullen got by Mackin 7-4, and then, for a second crack at Morris, defeated Kennedy in the semifinals 6-3. Morris, though, was not to be denied, and repeated his earlier victory with another 6-3 win over McCullen that secured his first Tri-State victory.

Tour representatives thanked Gotham City Billiard owners Kevin and Isabelle Buckley, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics.  The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for February 14, will be a $500-added, A/D handicapped event, hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.