It's rare when opponents facing each other in an opening round of tournament play, face each other a second time in the event finals. That, however, is just what happened at the Dishaw Custom Cues CNY Tour stop on Saturday, March 17. Adam Tanner, a double-A player, sent Tim Davis, a B+, to the loss side 8-4 in the opening round, and met him again in a true double elimination final. Tanner won two of their three matches to take top honors in the event, which had drawn 15 entrants to Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY.
Having dispatched Davis to the loss side, Tanner advanced among the winners' side final four to to face another B+ player, Mike Zarelli. Marko Clark, in the meantime, squared off against Adam Osborne. Tanner got into the hot seat match with an 8-4 victory over Zarelli, and was met by Clarke, who'd defeated Osborne 7-4. Tanner got into the hot seat with an 8-5 win.
Meanwhile, Davis was embarked on a six-match, loss-side winning streak that would give him a second chance against Tanner. He got by two A players, Bobby Schroeter 6-6 and Gary Lloyd 6-2 to meet up with Osborne. Zarelli drew Lance Kellogg, who'd defeated Mike Renshaw 6-6 and Travis Salvetti 7-1. In the all B+ battle to determine the tie for fifth place, Davis and Kellogg defeated Osborne and Zarelli; Davis 6-3 over Osborne and Kellogg 6-1 over Zarelli.
Davis chalked up his fifth loss-side match with a 6-3 victory over Kellogg in the B+ quarterfinal match. A 6-5 victory over Clarke in the semifinals (Clarke needing 7), set up the true double elimination final re-match.
Davis battled to double hill in the opening set, and prevailed to force a second. Tanner, though, gave up only a single rack in the deciding second set, winning 8-1 to secure the event title.
Tour director Gary Lloyd thanked the ownership and staff of Premium Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Dishaw Custom Cues, Cue Shark, TotalPoolInfo, and Custom Logo USA.
