To wins at the Derby City Classic (10-Ball Challenge), The New England Pool Hall of Fame 9-Ball Open and two stops on the Predator Tour this year, Jayson Shaw has added a victory in the 3rd Annual Eastern States Championships, held on the weekend of August 13-14. Shaw, defending the title he won last year, went undefeated through the Open/Pro field, downing, in order, Shaun Wilkie and Mike Dechaine to complete the run. The $2,000-added event, held under the auspices of the Predator Tour, The Ride the 9 Tour and the New England 9-Ball series, drew 31 entrants to Snookers in Providence, RI. A concurrently-run, $1,000-added Amateur event (separate story) drew 76 to the same location.
Shaw hooked up with Shaun Wilkie in the hot seat match of this event. Shaw had sent Gotham City Billiards House Pro Jorge Rodriguez to the loss side 8-4 in a winners' side semifinal, as Wilkie was tied up in a double hill fight he eventually won against Dechaine in the other one. Shaw claimed the hot seat 8-5 over Wilkie and waited on what turned out to be the return of Dechaine.
Dechaine began his loss-side trip back to the finals against Brandon Shuff, who'd eliminated Nelson Oliviera and Jeremy Sossei, both 8-4. Rodriguez drew Tom D'Alfonso, who'd gotten by Michael Yednak 8-3, and Jarrod Clowery 8-5.
Dechaine and Shuff locked up in a double hill battle that eventually sent Dechaine to the quarterfinals. Rodriguez and D'Alfonso came within a game of double hill, but Rodriguez edged out in front by the two necessary to join Dechaine in the quarterfinal match.
Dechaine downed Rodriguez 8-3, earning himself a re-match against Wilkie in the semifinals. He took care of Wilkie 8-4 to land in what was most certainly the marquee matchup of the event - Dechaine and Shaw in the finals. Shaw completed his undefeated run 9-5 over Dechaine to claim the event title.
