On Labor Day weekend, to a growing list of 2015 victories that has included two Turning Stone events (XXIII, XXIV), the Ginky Memorial, two events on the Predator Tour, a Joss Tour win and a challenge match versus Corey Deuel, Jayson Shaw added a win in the Eastern States Championships, held under the auspices of the Predator Tour, the New England 9-Ball series and the Ride the 9 Tour. The $2,000-added Open/Pro event of the championships drew 27 entrants to Snooker's in Providence, RI. A concurrently-run, $1,000-added Amateur championship (separate story) drew 98.
Shaw's journey to the winners' circle took a little left hand turn in the battle for the hot seat against Nelson Oliviera, and he was forced to play a loss-side opponent in the semifinals - Sylvain Grenier - who'd won seven on the loss side to reach those semifinals. He took both circumstances in stride to claim the victory. He'd sent Jorge Rodriguez to the loss side in a winners' side semifinal 8-2, while Oliviera sent Tony Robles over 8-5. Oliviera claimed the hot seat 8-6.
On the loss side, it was Rodriguez who had the misfortune of running into Grenier, who was five wins into his seven-match, loss-side streak, that had included wins over Brent Boemmels 8-2 and Tom D'Alfonso 8-6. Robles picked up Kevin Guimond, who'd gotten by Peter Bowman 8-4 and Rick Sleeper 8-6 to reach him.
Grenier downed Rodriguez and Guimond eliminated Robles, both 8-6. Grenier then defeated Guimond in the quarterfinals 8-5. Then, he ran into Shaw, who was, to put it mildly, anxious to get back into things for a second shot at Oliviera in the hot seat. Shaw gave up a single rack to Grenier in the semifinals, and put an exclamation point on his event victory by giving up only two to Oliviera in their re-match.
Predator Tour Director Tony Robles thanked his fellow TDs from the New England 9-Ball Series (Marc Dionne) and Ride the 9 Tour (Gloria Magnano), as well as Snooker's owners, Stephen and Regina Goulding and sponsors, Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, and Delta 13 racks.
