Dramatic Finish on the CNY 9-Ball TourBy Bill Rosenberger  Each tour usually has its own rules regarding certain aspects of a match, and the CNY 9-Ball Tour is no different. Tournament director Mike Renshaw has a rule that a player cannot concede the 9 ball or that player will lose that game and the following game. While the rule didn't directly affect the outcome of the January 8-9 tour stop at the Billiard Lounge in Binghamton, NY, it may have ignited Travis Anderson's game enough to wipe Seth Del Villano off the table in the 7-1 two-set victory. The start of the event was the first surprise as snow made the roads rough to travel. Renshaw was extremely happy to see that 40 players made it out to compete. Eight players returned for the second day of action, with the first two matches Del Villano versus Gary Empey and Anderson agains Bob Fuller. Anderson bested Fuller, while Empey pulled out the comeback win. Del Villano made it the hill first but miscued on the 8 ball in what would have been his victory-clinching game. Empey finished out the rack and swept through the rest of the match to take the win. Empey and Anderson both took their next matches and earned spots in the hot seat match. Sparked by a late surge, Anderson took the win 7-5. Empey then played Del Villano in the semifinals, with the rematch going to Del Villano 8-3. In the finals, Del Villano had to win two sets to capture a victory, while Anderson needed just one. According to Renshaw, Anderson wasn't himself in the first game, leaving Del Villano to run out to a 6-1 lead. Anderson thought his opponent had taken the first set, so he went ahead and flipped a coin to see who would break first in the second set. But Del Villano had to get to eight to win the set, and according to league rules, Anderson had officially conceded, costing him both games and giving Del Villano the first set. Anderson wasn't happy with himself, so he went outside to get some fresh air. When he returned for the second set, his game returned with him. Del Villano barely got to the table, earning only one game, while Anderson cruised to the 7-1 win. Results: 1st Travis Anderson $400 2nd Seth Del Villano $275 3rd Gary Empey $200 4th Paul Anderson $150 5th Bob Fuller, Dan Smith $110 7th Jerry Fiehl, Darryl Osborne $70 Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.
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