Paul Kazalski, Ronny Chestna and Jarryd Boyd
For the second year in a row, the New England 9-Ball Series’ Dave Marcus Memorial did not feature a final match. Last year, Brett Cavazos, as the undefeated occupant of the hot seat, was declared the official winner of the 2019 Dave Marcus Memorial and split the top two prizes with Buddy Oldham. This year, in the absence of Cavazos and Oldham’s two-and-out showing, the Dave Marcus Memorial title went to hot seat occupant Ronny “Chugga” Chestna, who split the top two prizes with Paulie Kazalski, after Kazalski took the opening set of a true double elimination final. The $500-added event drew 41 entrants to Buster’s Billiards in Somersworth, NH.
After an opening round bye, “Chugga” Chestna, playing in the event’s upper bracket, downed Cody Porter, Bill Phillips, and Katie Bowse to arrive at a winners’ side final matchup against Tyler Boudreau. In the lower bracket, Jarryd Boyd opened his campaign with victories over Barrett Ridley, Josh Turransky and Jozy Vienneau before running into Kazalski in a winners’ side quarterfinal. He defeated Kazalski 6-2 to draw Emily Cady in the other winners’ side semifinal.
Chestna got into the hot seat match with a 6-1 victory over Boudreau. He was joined by Boyd, who’d survived a double hill battle (5-3) against Cady. Chestna claimed the hot seat with what proved to be his last win – 6-1 over Boyd.
On the loss side, Kazalski opened up his five-match, loss-side trip to the finals with a 5-3 win over Shane Ryan. He followed that up with a 5-2 win over Chris Ouimette to draw Cady. Boudreau came over to the loss side for an immediate rematch versus Mark Morgan, whom he’d sent to the loss side, double hill, in one of the winners’ side quarterfinals. Morgan downed Roger Vivier 6-2 and Katie Bowse 6-1 to earn the rematch.
With Morgan racing to 6, it was Boudreau advancing to the quarterfinals 5-3. He was joined by Kazalski, who’d survived Cady’s second straight double hill match.
Kazalski chalked up his second straight double hill win, eliminating Boudreau in those quarterfinals and then, won a third double hill fight to eliminate Boyd in the semifinals.
Two doses of double-hill adrenaline probably helped as Kazalski squared off against Chestna in the finals. The opening set of the true double elimination final came within a game of being Kazalski’s third straight double hill match, but he pulled ahead to win it 4-6 (Chestna racing to 8). They opted out of a second set and split the top two prizes. Chestna, as the undefeated occupant of the hot seat, was able to claim the official event title.
Tour director Marc Dionne thanked the ownership and staff at Buster’s Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Predator, Poison, Arcos II, BCAPL, USAPL New England, Fargo Rate, Bert Kinister, AZBilliards, Inside English, Professor Q-ball’s National Pool and 3-Cushion News, Delta 13 Racks, MJS Construction, Master Billiards, OTLVISE Billiard Mechanics of America, Piku Tips, Just The Tip Cue Repair and Custom Accessories.
The next stop (#3) on the NE 9-Ball Series, scheduled for this weekend (Oct. 10-11), will be a $750-added event, hosted by Stroker’s Billiards in Pelham, NH. The event will be limited to 64 entrants and players must sign up on-line by 7 p.m., October 9.
