Harry Guevarez and Annie Flores
Harry Guevarez, who won the Tri-State Tour's 2016-2017 season opener last July, chalked up his second 2016-2017 win on the tour with an almost-undefeated run on Saturday, May 13. Rhio Anne ("Annie") Flores disrupted his otherwise uninterrupted run to the winners' circle with a victory over him in the hot seat match. Guevarez came back from the semifinals to claim the event title. The $1,000-added event drew 47 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY.
They met first, after Guevarez had shut out Adrian Daniel, and Annie Flores had sent Tony Liang to the loss side 7-3 in the two winners' side semifinals. Annie claimed the hot seat 9-7 and waited for Guevarez to get back from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Daniel picked up Zouraiz Ellahi, who'd recently defeated Andrea Shiffman 6-1, and just did get by Carlos Serrano 7-6. Liang drew Dave Shlemperis, who'd lost his first match and was in the midst of a nine-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him as far as the semifinals. He downed Lidio Ramirez 7-1 and like Ellahi, just did survive a 7/8 match versus Amir Udin.
Shlemperis and Ellahi handed Liang and Daniel their second straight loss; Shlemperis 7-3 over Liang and Ellahi 6-3 over Daniel. Shlemperis chalked up what would prove to be his final loss-side win with a 7-3 win over Ellahi. By the same score, Guevarez ended Shlemperis' streak to earn his second shot against Flores.
With two 'on the wire' at the start of the finals, Guevarez won three straight for a 5-0 lead over Flores. Flores responded with two racks, Guevarez answered with two more and Flores came back with another two. At 7-4 Harry chalked one up to reach the hill first. Flores fought back with three to make it 8-7, before Guevarez closed it out at 9-7 to claim the event title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Steinway Billiards for their hospitality and ongoing support of the tour, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Saturday, May 20, will be hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
