Ramon Feliciano, Lidio "Rasta" Ramierez and Thomas Schreiber
Earlier this year, in June, Lidio Ramirez chalked up his first win on the Predator Tour, going undefeated. On Saturday, December 21, he matched that undefeated performance to capture his first title on the Tri-State Tour. The $1,000-added event drew 28 entrants to the Cue Bar in Bayside, Queens, NY.
Following victories over Luis Jimenez, Dave Shlemperis, and Brian Cap, Ramirez faced Liam Tully in a winners' side semifinal, as Thomas Schrieber faced Bryan Singh in another. Ramirez downed Tully 7-4, and in the battle for the hot seat, faced Schrieber, who'd shut out Singh. Ramirez took the hot seat 9-8 and waited on Schrieber's return, which almost didn't happen, thanks to a six-match, loss-side streak by Ramon Feliciano.
Schrieber had sent Feliciano to the loss side originally, in another shutout. Feliciano got back to work and won three, including a shutout over Arthur Russell and a 6-4 win over Paulo Valverde to face Singh. Tully picked up Meshak Daniel, who'd gotten by Arturo Reyes 7-3 and shut out Brian Cap.
Tully downed Daniel 7-5, as Feliciano was busy surviving a double hill fight against Singh. No sooner had he defeated Singh, than Feliciano found himself in another double hill battle, this time against Tully in the quarterfinals. He survived that one, as well, which earned him a re-match against Schrieber in the semifinals. It was Feliciano's third straight double hill match, but Schrieber took the win this time, earning his own re-match against Ramirez, waiting for him
in the hot seat.
Schreiber came out gunning, winning four in a row at the start; a commanding lead by any standard. Ramirez, though, had an answer; four of his own that tied the match up. Two in a row for both of them, followed by a single win for both of them knotted things at 7-7. Ramirez completed his first win on the Tri-State Tour, winning the final two.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Cue Bar for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Qpod, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Focus Cases by John Bartron, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics , and Focus Apparel. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Saturday, December 27, will be hosted by Steinway Billiards in Astoria, Queens.
