Levittown, NY Saturday and Sunday Nov. 17 & 18.2001. Dan DiDominici owner of Leisure Time Billiards played host to Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. 43 Players showed to play for the almost $5000 in cash and enjoy one of the nicest pool rooms in the Northeast. Players from New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and even Spain showed. As always on the tour the competion was intense and the play was wonderful.
Saturday saw great matches including Zuglan and SanSouci meeting in the second round with Zuglan beating Ginky and then playing Robb Saez and winning to go undefeated for the day. US Navy Hospital Corpsman and great player Scott Richardson followed suit beating Ford, Lombardo and Lipsky to remain unscathed through Saturday. Joey "K" also beat everyone who got in his was as well as young Francisco Diaz of Malaga, Spain to round off the winner's side. On the one loss side we had Steve Gaikis, Robbie Saez, Danny Barouty and Jarrod Clowery.
With 8 players coming back on Sunday the great play even got better and no one player was a favorite this day. Joe Korsiak seemed to be on fire beating Diaz 9-3 and then besting Zuglan 9-6 to win the hot seat. On the one loss side it was all Diaz. This incredibly fast player with a great cue ball, a break that will never let him down played his heart out and beat Scotty Richardson and Mike Zuglan to win the one loss side of the chart. Playing with no fear and firing at everything he seemed to be unstoppable. In the true double elimination finals Francisco put on a show that all enjoyed. Unbelievable shot making and speed made these matches something to see. We clocked on game in 46 seconds and very few were too much longer. Jump shots, banks, combinations and more were coming from everywhere. Beating Korsiak 9-2 in the first match. In the second match Joey "K" undeterred by the Spaniards amazing play came out firing. Getting up 3-0 Joe broke and made nothing and the next thing you knew it was 3-3. Back and forth they won with Korsiak getting to the hill first. At 8-6 breaking Korsiak scratched and Diaz ran two and it was Hill Hill. Coming up empty on the break and the rack open Diaz could only sit and wait while Korsiak shot. But when Joey missed a tough 3-ball and scratched it was only a matter of a minute before Francisco Diaz had his first Joss win.
Many thanks to Danny and his great crew for a fine tournament. And if any of you get to this Part of Long Island, stop into Leisure Time and say hello. And while your in the area get over to Hicksville, NY and try a steak or dinner at Peppercorns restaurant. What a great place with great food and wonderful people. Long Island is a great place for pool and people and we had a great weekend. Thank you all.
