Brian Bryant
Brian Bryant came back from a loss in a winners’ side semifinal to successfully defeat the opponent that had sent him to the loss side, and then, double dip hot seat occupant, Avery Reece, to win the February 10-11 stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour. The event drew 46 entrants to Brass Tap in Raleigh, NC.
The event results hinged (more or less) on the battle for the hot seat, which determined whether Bryant would face an equal strength opponent, who’d already defeated him once, or a lower-strength opponent in the double elimination finals. Bryant was sent to the loss side by fellow “8” competitor, Jason Rogers 8-3 in one of the winners’ side semifinals. Reece, in the meantime, racing to 6, sent Anthony Mabe west 6-4 in the other one. Reece and Rogers battled to double hill for the hot seat, with Reece winning it 6-7 and Rogers moving over to the loss side for a re-match against Bryant in the semifinals.
On the loss side, Bryant ran into Scott Roberts (another player racing to 8), who’d defeated Lee O’Neal and J.R. Post, both 8-4 to reach him. Mabe picked up Cameron Lawhorne, who’d eliminated Cody Jones 5-1 and Jesse White 5-2.
Bryant downed Roberts 8-4, as Mabe just did defeat Lawhorne, double hill. Bryant took the double hill quarterfinal match over Mabe 8-6.
Bryant turned to his semifinal re-match against Rogers; in effect, thanks to the hot seat result, having to face an equal strength opponent only once (albeit, an opponent who’d defeated him previously), before facing a lower-strength opponent twice in the double elimination finals. Bryant defeated Rogers 8-5 in those semifinals and then, double-dipped Reece – 8-3, 8-2 – in the finals to claim the event title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Brass Tap, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of February 17-18, will be hosted by The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA.
