Ron Casanzio went undefeated in a single elimination 10-ball event, while Marco Kam came from the loss side to win a concurrently-run triple elimination 8-ball tournament, under the auspices of the Western New York Tour. It all happened on Saturday, December 12, at Eastridge Billiards in Rochester, NY. With some duplication, the 10-ball event drew 12 entrants, while the 8-ball tournament drew 19.
In the 8-ball, triple elimination tournament, which has more twists and turns-of-event than your average fun house of mirrors, Jose Mirabel worked his way into the hot seat. He had defeated tour director Nick Brucato 3-2, as Jerry Sullivan downed Ron Casanzio 3-1 in the winners' side semifinals. Mirabel claimed the hot seat 3-2 over Sullivan, and waited on what turned out to be the fateful return of Marco Kam.
On the loss side, which, in a triple elimination format, sees players who lose, move to a third bracket to potentially re-appear in the second (normal) loss-side bracket, Sullivan and Brucato ended up battling in what amounted to the third bracket final; a single game, won by Sullivan, who advanced to the semifinals against Kam.
Kam defeated Sullivan 2-1, in what was a more or less normal losers' side final, and got a shot at Mirabel in the hot seat. He took full advantage, downing Mirabel in the final race-to-6, 6-3.
In the single elimination 10-ball event, a single round of play, with four byes, resulted in four matchups, moving toward a final. Casanzio downed Dave Grau 8-4. Dan Veinot defeated Andy Gibson 8-5. Nick Brucato avenged his loss in the 8-ball event by defeating Sullivan 8-3 in 10-ball. Marco Kam rounded out the tournament's reduction to four players with an 8-4 victory over Chris Braiman, owner of Eastridge Billiards.
Casanzio then defeated Veinot 8-4, as Brucato advanced to the finals with an 8-5 victory over Kam. Casanzio claimed the 10-ball title with an 8-5 win over Brucato in the finals.
The next stop on the Western New York Tour, scheduled for January 23, 2016, will again be hosted by Eastridge Billiards in Rochester.
