by Skip Maloney

Iannuzzi captured another Tri-State Billiard Tour title.

With an undefeated performance November 22, Guy Iannuzzi became only the second player to win a second stop on the Tri-State Tour this year. The $500-added, B-D handicapped event drew 43 entrants to Comet Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.

From among the final four on the winners’ side, Iannuzzi sent Bogie Uzdejczyk west 7-4, while Raj Vannala bested Kevin Kemp by the same score.  Iannuzzi then sent Vannala to the semifinals with a 7-3 victory to gain the hot seat and awaited his return.

In the quarterfinal match, Uzdejczyk stopped Bob Kight’s bid for a second victory on the Tri-State tour with a 7-3 win. The semifinals between Vannala and Uzdejczyk was a long struggle that went back and forth until the score reached hill-hill. With three balls left on the table, Vannala was forced to play a safe shot on the 7 ball, which actually dropped that ball. It left Vannala with an easy out for the final two balls, sealing the win and giving Vannala a second chance at Iannuzzi.

By the time the finals got underway, it was no longer Saturday. By the time it was over, it was 4 a.m. Sunday. It proved to be a fairly easy road for Iannuzzi, who eliminated the need for a second set in the true double-elimination finals with a decisive 7-3 win that captured the first-place prize.

Results:
1st Guy Iannuzzi $575
2nd Raj Vannala $385
3rd Bogie Uzdejczyk $225
4th Bob Kight $140
5th Kevin Kemp $90
Lenny Knapp
7th Theo Burry $65
Bill Meima
9th Tri Chau $60
Ryan McCarthy
Jacob Schwartz
Bob Perkins