Though Chuck Giallorenzo had come out on top on the Predator Tour back in March, until Sunday, October 2, a victory on the Tri-State Tour had eluded him through six attempts. In three of those six attempts, his bid ended in a tie for fifth place, where this time, his journey from the loss-side began. He won three straight to get into the finals and defeated hot seat occupant, Alex Gilvarg to chalk up his first Tri-State win. The $500-added, A-D handicapped event drew 34 entrants to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.
From among the winners' side final four, Giallorenzo ran into Eddie DaCosta, who'd just survived a double hill match, and survived a second that sent Giallorenzo west. Gilvarg, in the meantime, dispatched Scott Simonetti to the loss-side with a 7-5 victory. Gilvarg then sent DaCosta to the semifinals with a 9-6 win and sat in the hot seat, awaiting Giallorenzo's return.
First up for Giallorenzo on the loss-side was Sam Smuke, who'd defeated Keith Diaz 6-2 and Alex Borukhovich 6-3 to reach him. Simonetti drew John Trobiano, who'd gotten by Joe Palone and Bill Gallagher, both 7-5. Trobiano downed Simonetti 7-2 to advance to the quarterfinals and was joined by Giallorenzo, who ended Smuke's day 6-4.
In the quarterfinals that followed, which was as far as Giallorenzo had gotten in his six attempts on the tour, he wasted little time seeing to it that it was Trobiano who ended up in fourth place. A 7-1 victory gave him his first shot at third place, and a 9-ball on the snap in the final rack of a double hill battle against DaCosta gave him a chance at least for second place.
Giallorenzo got out to an early lead in the two-game extended race against Gilvarg, who made a late charge to draw within a single game at 9-8. Giallorenzo, though, hung on to take the 18th rack and win his first victory on the Tri-State Tour.
Thanks were extended to the owners and staff at Castle Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing and Human Kinetics.
