Basdeo "Shawn" Sookhai, a Tri-State Tour veteran with numerous wins to his credit, sent Omar Alli, looking for his first win, to the loss side of the December 14 Tri-State Tour bracket, allowing him only a single rack out of eight games played. Alli came back from his loss-side trek to allow Sookhai only three racks out of 12 games played in the finals, and chalk up that first tour win. The $1,000-added event drew 30 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria, Queens.
Alli got by Juan Guzman, William Finnegan and Luis Jimenez before running into Sookhai among the winners' side final four. Jaydev Zaveri squared off against Ada Lio in the other winners' side semifinal. Sookhai handed Alli that 7-1 loss, and in the hot seat match, faced Lio, who'd survived a double hill battle against Zaveri. Sookhai gained the hot seat with a 9-6 win over Lio.
Alli's trail back to the finals began with a re-match against Finnegan, who'd downed Jimenez 7-3 and Tony Liang 7-5. Zaveri met Jamiyl Adams, who'd defeated Ambi Estevez 6-3 and Keith Diaz 6-4. Alli chalked up a second win over Finnegan 7-4, and in the quarterfinals, met Zaveri, who'd eliminated Adams 6-2.
Alli advanced to the semifinals against Lio with a 7-5 win over Zaveri, and earned his re-match against Sookhai with a double hill win over Lio. Alli took an early 3-0 lead in the finals, and after giving up a single rack, extended that lead by chalking up three more. They traded racks over the next three games, at which point Alli reached the hill and then, closed the door to chalk up his first Tri-State win.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff of Steinway Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod, Heptig Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next Tri-State event, scheduled for December 21, will be hosted by House of Billiards on Staten Island.
