Kevin Chong and Esteban Morrell Jr.
Kevin Chong and Esteban Morrell, Jr. fought two double hill battles in pursuit of a Tri-State victory on Sunday March 26. Chong won them both to claim the $500-added event that drew 25 entrants to Cue Bar Billiards and Lounge in Bayside, Queens, NY.
Following victories over Suzie Wong, Raymond Lee, and Allison LaFleur, Chong advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Greg Matos. Morrell, in the meantime, faced Stewart Warnock, Sr., who's joined his son (Jr.) competing on the Tri-State Tour. Chong downed Matos 5-3, as Morell was sending Warnock, Sr. to the loss side 7-5. Chong claimed the hot seat with the first of two double hill wins over Morrell.
On the loss side, Matos drew Wong, who'd defeated Bob Toomey 6-1, and John DeNoia 5-1 to reach him. Warnock picked up Jim Guttierez, who'd eliminated Raymond Lee 6-1 and Erick Carrasco 6-2.
Matos got by Wong 6-4, and in the quarterfinals, faced Guttierez, who'd defeated Warnock, Sr. 5-3. Matos advanced one more step, downing Guttierez 5-3, before himself being eliminated by Morrell in the semifinals 5-3.
A second double hill bout for the title was on. They went back and forth through eight games before Chong won it 5-4 to claim the event title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Cue Bar, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The Tri-State Tour will take a small hiatus, as the Super Billiards Expo takes center-stage at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, in Oaks, PA, which will begin this Thursday (March 30). The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for April 9, will be hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
