Roy Allan, Justin Muller and Carl Sallo
Joining some 24 intrepid souls, who braved a snowstorm to sign on to the Tri-State Tour stop on Saturday, February 27, Justin Muller came back from the one-loss side to take home the first place prize. The $750-added, B-D handicapped event was hosted by Edison Billiards in Edison, NJ.
After chalking up wins versus Paul Wortman and Ed Medina, Muller faced Roy Allan, his eventual finals opponent among the winners' side final four. At the same time, Robert Perkins faced Carl Sallo. Allan sent Muller west 7-3 to get into the hot seat match, where he faced Sallo, a 7-2 winner over Perkins. Allan sent Sallo to the semifinals with a 7-5 win and waited for what turned out to be Muller's return.
Muller's first opponent on the one-loss side was Gary Murgia, who'd gotten by Raul Reyes, Jr. 7-4 and Jason Egeln 7-3. Antonio Navarro, after wins over Medina 7-6, and George Osipovitch 6-3, faced Perkins. Muller moved into the quarterfinals with a 7-4 win over Murgia, as Perkins downed Navarro 7-5. Muller defeated Perkins 7-4 and then spoiled Sallo's bid to get back to Allan, with a decisive 7-1 win.
Muller and Allan traded the opening racks of the finals, before Allan took two in a row to go ahead 3-1. Muller came back with two of his own to knot it at 3-3. Muller took his first lead of the contest when Allan hung the 9-ball in the seventh rack, and then took a two-game lead himself when he sunk the 9-ball on the break. Allan hung the 9-ball a second time and Muller had a 6-3 lead. Allan pulled back within one at 6-5, but it was to be his last, as Muller went on to win three in a row to win it.
Thanks were extended to Sterling-Gaming and Viking Cues for their sponsorship related to the event.
