(l to r): Dax Druminski & Jaydev Zaveri
Back in April, at a Tri-State stop hosted by Rockaway Billiards, Dax Druminski made it all the way to the hot seat match, before being sent to the semifinals by the eventual winner, Paul Spaanstra. Druminski would not make it back for a second shot against Spaanstra. On Sunday, August 6, Druminski made it to a Tri-State hot seat match for the second time, and this time, he won it, sending Jaydev Zaveri to the semifinals, and eventually, defeating him a second time in the finals to claim his first Tri-State title. The $1,000-added event drew 31 entrants to Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
Following victories over Teddy Lapadula, Juan Melendez, and Tony Ignomirello, Druminski moved into a winners' side semifinal against Bob Toomey. Zaveri, in the meantime, having gotten by Tri Chau, Roger Hanos, and Max Watanabe, squared off against Eddie Medina in the other winners' side semifinal. Druminski sent Toomey to the loss side 6-4 to face Zaveri, who'd defeatEd Medina 7-5. Druminski claimed his first Tri-State hot seat 7-5 over Zaveri and waited for him to get back from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Medina picked up Hanos, who'd eliminated Luis Jimenez 7-4 and just did survive a double hill match against Watanabe. Toomey drew Tony "Iggy," who'd chalked up two straight double hill matches against Erick Carrasco and Frank Sieczka.
Medina downed Hanos 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. Toomey joined him after eliminating "Iggy" 6-3. Medina downed Toomey 7-5, but was himself eliminated 7-4 by Zaveri in the semifinals.
Zaveri would end up on the hill first in his finals re-match against Druminski, but left him an opening that allowed him to tie it up. In the final and deciding rack, Druminski held position, and completed his first Tri-State win with a five-ball run that gave him the event title.
Tri-State representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, Pool & Billiards, Professor Q Ball, Billiards Digest, Joe Romer Trophies, John Bender Cues, and DIGICUE OB. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Saturday, August 12, will be a $1,000-added 8-ball event, hosted by Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.
