WILKIE & Cap Off the Season SOOKHAI With FINALE WINS
BY ALISON M. FISCHER, NYCGRIND.COM - PHOTOS BY HENRY CHAN
RESULTS
looked to come out the victor, but The Predator Pro-Am Tour has now hung the 10-ball in the pocket and completed its fourth season running, handed over the victory to Shaun after the 2011 tour finale was held on Wilkie. December 10-11 at Raxx Pool Room, This win made for Shaun Wilkie’s Bar & Grill in West Hempstead, NY third straight victory in the Predator on Long Island. A total of 84 players Tour Finale at Raxx. Shaun Wilkie showed up for both events! mentioned that he would like to thank Under the leadership of tour owner Tony Robles & Raxx owner Holden Tony Robles as well as Predator Cues, Chin for putting on an awesome the Predator Tour has continued event, along with his fans and to grow and has become one of the sponsors for their support, including strongest pillars of the competitive Lucasi Hybrid. pool circuit in New York City and Congratulations to both Shaun and surrounding areas. Zion for their hard-fought battle While many of the region’s top pro through the finals! and amateur players regularly appear In the Amateur 9-Ball Finale event, a on the tour, this year’s finale event field of 68 turned out to fight for the also attracted internationally-known title at Raxx. Out of this field of many names from elsewhere, such as Earl of the area’s toughest amateurs, four players “The Pearl” Strickland and WPBA pro Melissa remained undefeated at the start of the second Herndon. day. In these two final four match-ups, Frank However, the Open/Pro 10-Ball finale event Ramos defeated Romeo Singh, while Chris would see some of the tour’s most familiar faces Giannakouros defeated Robert Gipp. lock into the final rounds of this event… where Chris Giannakouros then moved on to defeat Tony Robles highlighted the top half of the Frank Ramos 7-4 to take the hot seat. On bracket, defeating Gregg McAndrews, Jorge Giannakouros’ successful run through the Rodriguez 8-5, and Zion Zvi 8-5 to move into winner’s bracket, he also claimed wins over the hot seat match. Steve Way, Mike Hertz, Christian Cabrera, and Meanwhile, in the other half of the winner’s Daniel Dagotdot, before winning the final two bracket, Maryland pro Shaun Wilkie took down matches to guarantee his spot in the finals. Ruben Bautista 8-3, Mhet Vergara 8-4, and On the left side of the bracket, Shawn Mike Miller 8-6 to face off against Robles for Sookhai was busy grinding through the final the hot seat at noon on Sunday, December 11. rounds. After a first-round bye, Sookhai had Wilkie would continue to stay strong through made it through the following three winner’s this match to win 8-4 and guarantee himself a Above: Pro Winners: L-R, 2nd Place: Zion Zvi, 1st Place: Shaun bracket rounds, defeating John Mazes spot in the finals. Wilkie, 3rd Place: Tony Robles 7-4, Raphael DaBreo 7-5, and Matthew After his earlier loss to Tony Robles, Zion Below: Amateur Winners: L-R, 1st Place: Shawn Sookhai, 2nd Harricharan 7-4, before heading west after a Zvi got back on his feet on the one-loss side, Place: Chris Giannakouros, 3rd Place: Frank Ramos 7-5 loss to Robert Gipp. knocking out Earl Strickland 8-4 and Mike Shawn Sookhai made it through to the Miller 8-4, before taking vengeance against Tony position made for a challenge…wherein Wilkie had to one-loss side to then defeat Christian Cabrera 7-5, Robles, who he defeated 8-2 in the semifinal. bridge over the corner pocket on a long straight shot, Daniel Dagotdot 8-7, and Steve Way 7-3 before As he moved through the championship match, Zion and missed. moving into the semifinals, where he eliminated Zvi kept closely tied with undefeated Shaun Wilkie Wilkie left a rail shot for Zion, in a good position to Frank Ramos 7-2. Ramos had previously lost the as the two players worked their way to a hill-hill shoot the 10 past the corner of the side pocket. Zvi hot seat match to Chris Giannakouros tie-breaking game. and took home the 3rd place prize. “The final match was a gut-wrenching PROS: Undefeated Chris Giannakouros was battle all the way to the last game,” said 1st: $1,000 Shaun Wilkie then met by Shawn Sookhai, who had Wilkie, who had no other opponent make 2nd: $700 Zion Zvi finished off five opponents beforehand. it to the hill against him throughout the 3rd: $550 Tony Robles Sookhai & Giannakouros had a hardevent. Wilkie and Zvi stayed within two 4th: $350 Mike Miller fought match that ended in Shawn games of one another throughout the 5th/6th: $110 Jorge Rodriguez, Earl Strickland Sookhai’s favor after meeting at hill-hill. match… and the case game was also not Congratulations to both Shawn Sookhai without some twists and turns. AMATEURS: & Chris Giannakouros, along with 3rd After a short safety battle at hill-hill, Zvi 1st: $1,500 Shawn Sookhai place finisher Frank Ramos on their left Wilkie an opening in the rack, but $1,000 Chris Giannakouros great finale finishes! Shaun Wilkie came up short in his position 2nd: 3rd: $600 Frank Ramos The 2012 Predator Tour Season Opener on the 6 ball, forcing him to play a pinch 4th: $425 Steve Way will be taking place January 14-15 at draw shot to hold the cue ball for position 5th/6th: $300 Robert Gipp, Romeo Singh Steinway Billiards in Astoria Queens, on the 7 ball. Wilkie missed the shot, 7th/8th: $200 Daniel Dagotdot, Patrick Meyers NY! For more information please visit leaving Zvi a chance to runout the rack. In a strange turn of events, Zion Zvi 9th/12th: $110 Christian Cabrera, Matthew Harricharan, www.PredatorProAmTour.com left the cue ball frozen on top of the 10 Bob Schlott, Omar Alli Happy Holidays! ball, and had to play safe, leaving the cue 13th/16th: $70 Scott Murphy, Steve Mack, Carrie Metz, ball up table. Shaun Wilkie had another Niko Berzenishvili unexpected chance, but the cue ball’s
January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 13