Eric Grasman, Luis Jimenez, Jose Mendez and room owner-operator Kevin Buckley
Luis Jimenez, after a couple of unsuccessful runs competing against fellow amateurs on the Predator Tour this year, signed on to the September 20-21 stop on the Tri-State Tour, where he'd won two in a row, going undefeated, in June of 2013, and went undefeated again, through a field of 59 entrants. The $2,500-added event was hosted by Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.
After victories over Dennis Kennedy, Mike Figueroa, Jaret Buyund, and T.J. Aguis, Jimenez met up with Nick Antonakis for a winners' side semifinal. Jose Mendez, in the meantime, faced Eric Grasman. Jimenez sent Antonakis over 7-5, and was joined in the battle for the hot seat by Mendez, who'd defeated Grasman, also 7-5. Jimenez defeated Mendez 7-4 and waited on what turned out to be the return of Grasman.
On the loss side, Grasman began his three-match march back to the finals against Robert Pamilar, who'd shut out Miguel Laboy, and eliminated Koka Davladze 8-6. Antonakis picked up T.J. Aguis, who'd defeated Tony Ignomirello 6-1, and John Morrison 6-4. Grasman and Aguis advanced to the quarterfinals; Grasman 8-4 over Pamilar and Aguis 6-5 against Antonakis.
Grasman earned his rematch against Mendez with a 9-6 win over Aguis in the quarterfinals, and then successfully wreaked his vengeance against Mendez 7-2 in the semifinals. Jimenez completed his undefeated run with an 8-4 win over Grasman in the finals.
Tour representatives thanked Kevin and Isabel Buckley, owners of Gotham City Billiards, and their staff, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Qpod, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Focus Cases by John Barton, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics , and Focus Apparel. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Saturday, September 27, will be hosted by BQE Billiards in Jackson Heights (Queens), NY.
