Due to an illness in his family that required his presence, Kyle Bubet opted to split the top two prizes at the February 17 stop on the Tri-State Tour with Greg Ackerman. As the undefeated hot seat occupant, Bubet claimed the event title; his third on the Tri-State Tour since 2010. The $750-added event drew 46 entrants to Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
Bubet and Ackerman had met, once, among the winners' side final four, with Bubet prevailing 6-2 to move into the hot seat match. He was met by Chris Kelly, who'd defeated Steve Mocarski 7-5. Bubet and Kelly battled to double hill in the hot seat match, before Bubet prevailed in what proved to be his final win.
Ackerman moved west to pick up Tony Ignomirello, who'd defeated Anthony Mattia 6-3 and Ada Lio 7-5 to reach him. Mocarski drew Jimmy Rivera, who was in the midst of a six-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him to the quarterfinals. He'd gotten by Guy Iannuzzi 7-5 and Scott Simonetti 7-4 for the right to face Mocarski. Rivera won his sixth and last loss-side match 7-4 over Mocarski, and in the quarterfinals, faced Ackerman, who'd ended Ignomirello's day 6-3.
Ackerman downed Rivera 7-5 and squared off against Kelly in the semifinals. The two opted to split the 2nd and 3rd place prizes and play a single, sudden death game to determine who'd lay claim to the official second place finish. Ackerman won the single game, and then, in consideration of Bubet's family emergency, opted out of a final match, as well. Bubet, as the undefeated hot seat occupant, was granted the event title.
Tour representatives thanked the owners and staff at Clifton Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Poison Cues, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next Tri-State Tour stop, a $1,000-added, A-D handicapped event is scheduled for Sunday, February 24, at the Cue Bar in Bayside, Queens.
