The last time we reported on Dave Shlemperis' appearance in the winners' circle of a tour event (in June 2016), we noted that he'd had something of a 'dry' year, which, to the point of the report on a Predator Tour stop, had failed to include a win. He only cashed twice in 2016; winning once and finishing (a month later) in a tie for 7th place, both on the Predator Tour. Well, he's back, and in a February 11-12 appearance on the Predator Tour, he won seven on the loss side and downed hot seat occupant, Elvis Rodriguez in the finals. The $1,000-added event drew 54 entrants to the Cue Bar in Bayside (Queen), NY.
Shlemperis was sent to the loss side, in a double hill battle, by Rhio "Annie" Flores, who advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Rodriguez, who was the winner, coming from the loss side, on the previous week's (Feb. 5) stop on the Tri-State Tour. Eugene Ok, in the meantime, squared off against KC Clayton. Rodriguez downed Flores 7-4, and in the hot seat match, faced Ok, who'd sent Clayton to the loss side 7-3. Rodriguez claimed the hot seat and his last match win of the weekend with an 8-6 victory over Ok.
On the loss side, Shlemperis was four matches into his seven-match, loss-side winning streak, having downed, most recently, Tim Fitzsimmons 7-5, and Tom Hagan, double hill, to earn himself a rematch against Flores. Clayton drew Paul Lyons, who'd defeated Amy Yu 7-4 and Darrin Schmidt 7-2 to reach him.
In their second double hill fight of the event, Shlemperis downed Flores. He was met, in the quarterfinals, by Lyons, who'd eliminated Clayton 7-3. Shlemperis then downed Lyons 7-2, before locking up in another double hill match against Ok in the semifinals. Shlemperis advanced to the finals, where he defeated Rodriguez 9-4 to claim the event title.
Tour director Tony Robles thanked the ownership and staff at Cue Bar, as well as sponsors Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, Poison Billiards, PlayNAPL.com, The Devito Team, PoolOnTheNet.com, Capelle (BilliardsPress.com), AZBilliards, Billiards Digest and Pool & Billiard Magazine.
The next stop on the Predator Tour, scheduled for February 25-26, will be a combination $2,000-added A/B/C/D event, and a $1,000-added Pro event. It will be hosted by Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, NY.
