Rich Minichello came back from a defeat at the hands of Ranulf Tamba among the winners' side final four to double dip Tamba in the finals and claim the April 28 event title on the J. Pechauer Ride the 9 Tour. The event drew 36 entrants to Snooker's in Providence, RI.
As Tamba advanced to the hot seat match on the heels of his initial 4-2 victory over Minichello, who was racing to 6, Jose Soto was sending Tim Perry west 5-2. Tamba survived a double hill match against Soto to sit in the hot seat, awaiting the return of Minichello.
Minichello's three-match march back to the final began against Francisco Cabral, who'd defeated Rene Claveau 5-3 and Tam Trinh 5-1 to meet him. Perry drew Mike Demarco, who'd gotten by Chris Neacsu 5-2 and Rich Ferrell, double hill. Demarco handed Perry his second straight loss 4-2, as Tamba was busy with a double hill win over Cabral.
Minichello made short, 7-1 work of Demarco in the quarterfinals, and in a straight-up race to five in the semifinals, defeated Soto 5-2. Minichello then gave up only three racks over 15 games in the two-set final to claim the event title.
Jose Soto won a $500 J. Pechauer Cue in the event's raffle, while Curtis Rohrer was awarded a half-price entry to the tour's season finale, scheduled May 19 at Bo's Billiards in Warwick, RI.
1st Rich Minichello $350
2nd Ranulf Tamba $200
3rd Jose Soto $140
4th Mike Demarco $85
5th Tim Perry $60
Francisco Cabral
7th Rich Ferrell $30
Tam Trinh
