In his third cash finish in a regional tournament, Noe Videz took home his first event title. His first two cash finishes came on the Garden State Pool Tour, where he finished as runner-up at an event in April. In August, on the same tour, he finished 7th. His runner-up finish occurred at Shooter’s Family Billiards in Wayne, NJ and so did his undefeated run to his first regional tour title, which he earned on the Predator Tri-State Tour this past weekend (Sat., Oct. 21). The $500-added event drew 32 entrants to Shooter’s.
The event played out in a modified, double-elimination format, which sent the last two competitors on the winners’ side of a double-elimination bracket and four from the loss side to a six-player, single elimination bracket. The winner’s side competitors received byes in the opening round of single elimination, while the four from the loss side played two matches to eliminate two of them.
Videz received an opening-round bye in the double-elimination first stage and then got by Mike Strassberg and Leo Recinos, both 6-3, before defeating Mike Tritto, double hill and drawing Mark Antonetti in a winners’ side semifinal. Meanwhile, the eventual runner-up, Timothy Clark, also received a bye, before sending Juan Pena (double hill), Rachel Lang (5) and Juan Tavares (5) to the loss side and drawing Aurelio Romero in the other winners’ side semifinal.
In effect, reaching the winners’ side semifinal was a guarantee of advancement to single elimination because as soon as Clark downed Romero, double hill, and Videz defeated Antonetti 6-3, Romero and Antonetti faced off against two, loss-side competitors – Juan Tavares and Mike Trillo, respectively – in what became the first two matches of single-elimination; a sort of play-in round to the event semifinals.
Romero eliminated Tavares, but not without a double-hill challenge from him. Romero advanced to pick up Clark. Videz drew Tritto, who’d defeated Antonetti 6-2.
Videz punched his ticket to the finals with a double-hill win over Tritto. Clark joined him following his 7-2 victory over Romero. Videz completed his undefeated run with a 7-3 victory over Clark to claim his first regional tour title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Shooter’s Family Billiards, as well as title sponsor Predator Cues, Romer’s Trophies, Phil Cappelle and Sterling Gaming. The next stop on the Predator Tri-State Tour is to be announced.
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