Sixteen Billiard Players Remain at Turning Stone

Sixteen Billiard Players Remain at Turning Stoneby Rick Davis, Inside POOL MagazineThe Turning Stone Classic VII has offered up a variety of excitement and matchups through the events first three days. Taking place from August 17 - 20 at the Turning Stone Hotel and Casino in Verona, NY, a full field of 128 billiards players were poised to play for the $25,000-added prize pool. Winners' side action was fierce from the start with defending champion Dennis Hatch defeating Mike Davis 9-6 in their featured first-round match. Hatch fell in the next round to Zion Zvi, who flew through four rounds to face Santos Sambajon Jr. in the quarterfinals. George Breedlove had a strong start but lost double-hill to Tony "The Sniper" Crosby in Round 2, who continued on until Zvi sent him to the one-loss side after a close 9-7 match.
Jeanette Lee advanced to the top four undefeated after sending four victims to the one-loss side, including Richard Broumpton after a 9-5 score in the fourth round. Broumpton defeated Allen Hopkins in the first round 9-6, as well as James Roberts 9-3, who had sent Ralf Souquet to the western half of the board. Chris Bartram started with a powerful 9-1 match, which was enough momentum to move through several more rounds.Shawn Putnam and recent North American Open runner-up "Marvelous Marlon" Manalo each took two quick wins until they faced off, with Putnam advancing 9-7. Karen Corr drilled her previous two opponents, putting her in stroke enough to defeat Putnam 9-6. Tournament director Mike Zuglan started with a strong showing, winning his first three matches but suffering a 9-7 defeat to Joey Korsiak, who will move on to face Corr.The last chunk of the winners' side was a two-man show. Recent International Challenge of Champions victor Johnny Archer was relentless, taking his first three matches 9-0, 9-1, and 9-2 then a fourth match 9-5 to reach the top four undefeated. Not to be outdone, Keith "Earthquake" McCready started with a 9-0 win then ground through three more matches to face Archer. Action on the one-loss side held few surprises, as the top players sifted through to the later rounds. Jerry Slivka made up for an early loss, defeating his opponents 9-0, 9-2, 9-3, and 9-1, which will bring him to face Broumpton. Hatch, Davis, Zuglan, Crosby, and Manalo each made their way through the one-loss side as well, reaching opponents in the sixth round of the one-loss side. In that same round, Hopkins and Putnam will face off to see who stays alive.The top players on the winners' side will meet Sunday in the top four, where Corr will meet Archer while Lee faces Sambajon. With only 16 players remaining, and most of them crowd favorites, the cream will rise to the top as only an A game will keep them alive. Visit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest news on the sport of billiards and pool.

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