In the midst of the Tri-State Tour's $1,000-added, A-D handicapped event that drew 40 entrants to Amsterdam Billiards in Manhattan, NY on Labor Day weekend, Ed Hugh's performance led to an elevation of his handicap status to an “A.” He continued play with the new ranking and completed the two-day event by stopping a loss-side challenge from Robert Plaut (C+) in the finals and finishing the event undefeated.
From among the winners' side final four, with his new ranking, Hugh defeated “A” player Daniel Dagotdot 7-2 and moved into the hot seat match versus Alex Berszinn (C+), who'd just sent Mel McCullen (D+) west 7-4. Hugh sent Berszinn to the semifinals 7-5 and waited in the hot seat for Plaut to complete his run on the one-loss side.
Dagotdot moved to the one-loss side and faced Bogie Uzdejczyk, who'd gotten by William Galagher and Emily Duddy, both 7-5 (Duddy had eliminated Tri-State veteran Scott Simonetti in an earlier round). McCullen moved over to face Plaut, whom he'd sent west in the fourth round. Plaut had defeated Cydni Haefner 6-2 and Pat Mareno 7-4 for his second chance against McCullen.
Dagotdot and McCullen's journey on the one-loss side lasted a single match, as Dagotdot succumbed to Uzdejczyk 7-2 and Plaut exacted his revenge on McCullen 7-4. Plaut went on to defeat Uzdejczyk 8-5 in the quarterfinals, and Berszinn 7-2 in the semifinals.
Hugh, though, was not to be denied. He took the opening set of the true double elimination final 8-5 to secure the event victory, his first on the Tri-State Tour.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff of Amsterdam Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Cappelle, Blue Book Publishing and Human Kinetics.
