Marvin Phisitkraiyakorn, Dave Shlemperis and Xavier Romero
It's been something of a 'dry' year for Dave Shlemperis, who divides his time between the Predator and Tri-State Tours. He's a B+ player on both tours and has participated in 19 total events, nine on the Predator Tour, but until the weekend of June 18-19, he had yet to record an event win. According to our records, he had his second best earnings year in 2015, when he won a stop on the Tri-State Tour and cashed in eight other events. His best year was 2013, when he won a stop on the Predator Tour, a Second Chance event on the Joss Tour, and cashed in 10 other events. Shlemperis went undefeated to chalk up his first 2016 victory on the weekend of June 18-19, during a $1,000-added, double-points stop on the Predator Tour that drew 57 entrants to Cue Bar in Bayside (Queens), NY.
Shlemperis had to get by Martin Phisitkraiyakorn twice in this event; once, in the hot seat, and again, in the finals. Shlemperis had defeated Lidio Ramirez 7-6 in one winners' side semifinal, as This was sending Javier Romero to the loss side 7-3 in the other. Shlemperis got into the hot seat with an 8-3 win over Phisitkraiyakorn, and waited on his return.
On the loss side, Ramirez picked up Carl Yusuf Khan, who'd defeated Matthew Harricharan and Fernando Paulino, both double hill, to reach him. Romero drew Troy Deocharran, who picked up a forfeit victory over Lucas Fracas, and survived a double hill fight versus Thomas Schreiber.
Ramirez and Romero advanced to the quarterfinals; Ramirez 7-4 over Khan and Romero, double hill over Deocharran. Romero took the quarterfinal match over Ramirez 8-4 and advanced to a re-match against Phisitkraiyakorn in the semifinals.
Romero chalked up one more rack against Phisitkraiyakorn, than he had in their winners' side semifinal match, but it was Phisitkraiyakorn, advancing to a re-match versus Shlemperis with a 7-4 win. Shlemperis claimed the event title with an 8-3 re-match victory over Phisitkraiyakorn in the finals.
