Basdeo Shawn Sookhai, Kim Meyer-Gabia and Keith Adamik
Keith Adamik has been a consistent top 10 finisher on the Tri-State Tour for a few years now. He finished the 2011-2012 season as the # 2-ranked player in the A/A+ class, 15 points behind Daniel Dagotdot that year, but until this past Saturday (July 20), a victory on the tour had eluded him. As it played out, it looked as though it might elude him again, as Stewart Warnock shut him out in the opening round of play. Adamik came back from that defeat to win nine on the loss side, then meet and defeat hot seat occupant Basdeo Sookhai to claim his first Tri-State Tour title. The $1,500-added event, the first of the Tri-State Tour's 2013-2014 season, drew 38 entrants to Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.
With Adamik busy on the loss side, Sookhai and Kim Meyer-Gabia were advancing to meet in the battle for the hot seat. In one of the winners' side semifinals, Sookhai sent Lidio Ramirez to the loss side as Meyer-Gabia sent Tony Ignomirello over; both by scores of 7-4. Sookhai moved into the hot seat with a 7-3 win over Meyer-Gabia.
Adamik, in the meantime, began his long, loss-side trek back to the finals with wins over Chuck Giallorenzo, Meshak Daniel, Dave Shlemperis and Paul Bramwell. He then downed Marco Costello 7-5 and Bogie Uzdejczyk 7-3, which set him up to face Ramirez, coming off the winners' side semifinals. Ignomirello drew Bob Toomey, who'd survived a double hill match against Steve Persaud, and defeated Robert Veit 6-3.
Adamik survived his one and only double hill fight, defeating Ramirez, as Toomey advanced to meet him in the quarterfinals with a 6-1 victory over Ignomirello. Adamik then dropped Toomey into fourth place 9-6 and spoiled Meyer-Gabia's bid to get back to the finals with an 8-6 win over her in the semifinals.
In the final match, Adamik and Sookhai got things underway by trading racks back and forth to a 3-3 tie; Adamik taking his first lead at 3-2. At the tie, however, it was over. Adamik chalked up six straight to win the match and claim his first Tri-State title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Gotham City Billiards, along with sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod, Heptig Cues, Steve Dunkle Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour is scheduled for July 28 at Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
