by Alison M. Fischer, NYCgrind.com

Zee Shan Sabfa came through the one-loss side of the chart to win first place at the August 14-15 installment of the Ozone Billiards Predator 9-Ball Tour. Hosted by Mr. Cue Billiards in Lindenhurst, NY, the $1,000-added event was worth double points and drew a 52-player field.

Zee Shan Sabfa came through the one-loss side of the chart to win first place at the August 14-15 installment of the Ozone Billiards Predator 9-Ball Tour.

Several C-D players were also putting together impressive performances on the one-loss side, including Diana Rojas, Anthony Zoccolillo, Al Frances, and Bob Schlott. After losing to Safba on the winners’ side, Villalobos squeaked out a close 7-6 win over Schlott, lining up the quarterfinal match against room owner Scott Murphy, who was grinding through the A-B west side of the bracket.

Murphy, rated a B, lost his first round to one of the favorites, John Alicea, hill-hill and then began an impressive comeback, winning eight matches in a row to reach Villalobos. After eliminating him 7-3, he went on to face Lentini. In the semifinal match between the two house players, Murphy emerged victorious 7-3. The final match was then set between Murphy and Safba. When the dust settled, it was Safba who edged out a hill-hill, 9-8 victory, breaking through for his first Predator Tour win.

This stop on the Predator Tour also featured a $300-added second day, single-elimination event. Ten players participated, and rising to the top of the bracket were Tony Sinacore and Scott Murphy, who split in the final, each taking $180. Coming in tied for third place were Shawn Sookhai and Geoff Conway, winning $60.

Results:
1st Zee Shan Safba $1,000
2nd Scott Murphy $600
3rd Charlie Lentini $450
4th Rene Villalobos $300
5th Bob Schlott $225
Jerry Tarantola
7th Stewart Warnock $150
Anthony Zoccolillo
9th Diana Rojas $100
Frankie Cologne
Scott Simonetti
Al Frances

by Jerry Tarantola, NYCGrind.com

Kevin Guimond won the inaugural Empire State Amateur Championship event, the first-ever amateur 9-ball title in New York, over Duane “Wu-Tang” Toney the weekend of March 6-7. Hosted by Raxx Pool Room, Bar and Grill in West Hempstead, NY, this $2,500-added tournament was put on by the Ozone Billiards Predator 9-Ball Tour and brought in a full 128-player field.

Guimond’s road to the finals included wins over Dinko Busanich 7-2, Mike Panzarella 7-2, John Trobiano 7-2, Peter Ziemak 7-2, Tom Seminaro 7-6, Thomas Wan 7-6, and Toney 7-4 in the hot seat match.

Toney’s road to the finals included wins over Rob Slayback 7-6, Arturo Reyes 7-5, Brian Russell 7-6, Albert Estevez 7-5, Niko Berdzenishvili, and Bob Schlott before his meeting with Guimond. On the one-loss side, Toney overcame the hot Schlott, who just came off of a huge 7-5 win over the favored Justin Muller, earning Toney a shot in the finals.

The final match was between the strongest “A” and “C” players of the day, resulting in a two-game handicap, which Toney took advantage of out of the gate. Toney captured the first two games and took control of the set early on. But once Toney reached a 5-0 lead, Guimond caught a gear. Guimond battled back to even the score at 7-all and had the break in the final game. He broke and ran out, claiming the first-ever Empire State Amateur Championship.

Kevin Guimond won the inaugural Empire State Amateur Championship event, the first-ever amateur 9-ball title in New York, over Duane “Wu-Tang” Toney the weekend of March 6-7.

photo courtesy of NYCGrind.com