Jorge Rodriguez, Hunter Lombardo, Mike Dechaine and Mike Davis
Becoming a qualifying event for consideration as a member of the 2016 Mosconi Cup team, the 8th Annual Empire State 10-Ball Championships, held on the weekend of February 20-21, doubled the number of entrants from last year that signed on to compete in the Open/Pro event of those championships. Mike Dechaine, soon to be inducted into the New England Pool and Billiard's Hall of Fame, went undefeated through the 2016 field of 32, defeating defending Open/Pro champion, Jorge Rodriguez in the finals. The $1,000-added event was hosted by Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, NY (see separate story for Amateur results).
Rodriguez' attempt to defend his title was initially sidetracked in a winners' side final four matchup, in which Hunter Lombardo sent him to the loss side. Dechaine, in the meantime, went nose-to-nose against Mike Davis, who, one week prior, had become North Carolina's 10-Ball Champion and the week before that, the Series VII American Rotation Champion in Indiana. Lombardo defeated Rodriguez 7-5, as Dechaine was busy surviving a double hill battle against Davis. Dechaine then defeated Lombardo in the hot seat match 7-5.
On the loss side, Rodriguez met up with Edwin Guzman, who'd gotten by Lee Kang 7-3 and just did get by Miguel LaBoy 7-6. Davis ran into a familiar opponent, Shaun Wilkie, who'd eliminated another consistent rival on the Action Pool Tour, Brandon Shuff 7-4 and downed Brooke Meyer 7-1.
Rodriguez and Davis got right back to work; Rodriguez shutting out Guzman and Davis eliminating Wilkie 7-5. Rodriguez then defeated Davis 7-4 in the event quarterfinals, for a second shot at Lombardo in the semifinals. Rodriguez wreaked his vengeance 7-4 on Lombardo for a chance to defend his title against Dechaine in the finals. It was not to be. Dechaine completed his undefeated run 9-6, sending him north to Rhode Island for his induction into the New England Pool and Billiard's Hall of Fame with an added victory to his resume.
