Quin Y. Chen, Jud Parker and Yagif Alekberov
During the May 17 stop on the Tri-State Tour, Jud Parker made it as far as a winners' side semifinal, before being sent to the losers' bracket by Vagif Alekberov. Parker would return, after winning three straight to meet and defeat Quin Y. Chen in the finals of the $750-added, event, hosted by House of Billiards, on Staten Island.
Parker's winning side trail went through Marco Costello, and Edward LaLmiev, before encountering Alekberov in a winners' side semifinal. Chen, in the meantime, squared off against Mike Strassberg. Alekberov bested Parker 6-4, as Chen was downing Strassberg 6-3. Chen defeated Alekberov in the battle for the hot seat, and waited on the return of Parker.
Parker moved over to face Richard Anderson, who'd defeated Luis Lopez 6-5 and Marco Costello 8-2 to reach him. Strassberg ran into Robert Jew, who'd gotten by Pat Mareno 6-5 and Eddie Perez 6-2. Parker started his trip back to the finals with a 6-3 victory over Anderson, as Strassberg was being sent home Jew 6-2. Parker then downed Jew 6-3 and got a second shot at Alekberov in the semifinals.
Parker gave up only a single rack against Alekberov, and moved into the finals against Chen. Chen got on the board first, but Parker answered with five straight to take a lead he'd never give up. Parker had increased his lead by one at the 7-2 mark, before Chen came up with three straight to pull within two at 7-5. Parker ended it though in the next rack to claim the event title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at House of Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod, Heptig Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, to be conducted in cooperation with the Predator and Mezz Pro Am Tours, will be the fourth annual George "Ginky" Sansouci Memorial Tournament, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, at Steinway Billiards in Astoria, Queens, NY.
