Enoch Hooper began his Labor Day weekend as a "C+" rated player. Before the weekend was over, though, he'd picked up his first victory on the Tri-State Tour with an undefeated run, and been elevated to a "B" status. The $920-added B-C-D event on August 30-31 that brought this about drew 44 entrants to Amsterdam Billiards in Manhattan.
Hooper's rise to a "B" player actually occurred during the event, as he continued to chalk 'em up on the winners' side of the bracket. He entered the winners' side semifinal as a "C+" but went into the hot seat match as a "B." Hooper had downed Colin Kelly (a "B") 7-3 and in the hot seat faced Bob Toomey, who'd defeated Andrew Cleary 6-3. The new "B" defeated the "C" (Toomey) 7-5 and sat in the hot seat on the brink of his first Tri-State victory.
Kelly moved to the loss side and had the misfortune of running into Alex Osipov, who'd been defeated in the event's opening round and was on a seven-match streak to the quarterfinals. He'd just defeated John Morrison 7-5 to draw Kelly. Cleary drew Jamiyl Adams, who'd just finished with Wanlop Chantarakolkit by the same score.
Osipov and Cleary advanced to the quarterfinals; Osipov 7-3 over Kelly and Cleary 7-5 over Adams. Osipov's run was ended 7-4 by Cleary, who advanced to the semifinals against Toomey. Clearly spoiled Toomey's chance at a second shot against Hooper with a double win in the semifinals.
Cleary took an early lead in those finals, getting out in front by 4-1. Hooper came back to win on the hill 7-6.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Amsterdam Billiards, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Qpod, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Focus Cases by John Batron, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Focus Apparel. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for September 6, will be hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.
