Arturo Reyes, Beau Baer and Tony Ignomirello
While the battle for the hot seat was a replay of the February 26 Tri-State semifinals at the same location - Tony Ignomirello versus Arturo Reyes - the finals of the April 22 Tri-State stop saw Beau Baer complete a seven-match trip on the loss side to meet and defeat Tony Ignomirello, who finished third in that earlier match. The $1,000-added, A-D handicapped event drew 22 entrants to the Cue Bar in Bayside, NY.
Baer survived a double hill battle against Joe Palone in the opening round of play, before being sent west by Stewart Warnock 7-4. Reyes and Ignomirello, in the meantime, moved among the winners' side final four; Reyes, facing Keith Adamik and Ignomirello, squaring off against Ben Cataneros. Reyes downed Adamik 7-5, as Ignomirello was busy sending Cataneros west, double hill. Ignomirello sent Reyes to the semifinals versus Baer 7-5, and sat in the hot seat, waiting for his return.
Baer began his seven-match trip back to the finals with victories over Carl Yusuf Khan and Bogie Uzdecjzyk, before running into Warnock a second time. He then wreaked his vengeance on Warnock 7-5, and defeated Gary Murgia by the same score to meet up with Adamik. Castaneros drew Kim Meyer-Gabia, who'd gotten by Robert Jew 6-1 and battled to double hill, before prevailing in a match versus Yomaylin Feliz.
Baer eliminated Adamik 7-3, and in the quarterfinals, faced Meyer-Gabia, who'd survived a double hill battle over Castaneros. Baer defeated Meyer-Gabia 8-6 and completed his loss-side journey with a 7-5 victory over Reyes in the semifinals.
Ignomirello jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the finals, but Baer then chalked up 10 straight to reach the hill ahead of him. Ignomirello won the 15th rack, but Baer finished it immediately afterwards to capture the event title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Cue Bar for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. Next stop on the Tri-State Tour will be a $1,500-added, A-D handicapped event, scheduled for April 28, at Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.
