Reed’s Win Wraps Up the 2008 Viking Tour Amateur Nationals

TF Whittington & Matt Reed

The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour Nationals wrapped up this weekend with 5 events that rotated between Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, GA and Side Pockets Cue Club and Billiards in Marietta, GA.  The 5 Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour National Championship events have paid out $41,350 and hosted 524 players with an average prize fund of $8,270 per event and an average of 105 players per event.  This included $13,500 that was added to these events.  The Winners of the Events were event #1- Billy Tyler, event #2 & #3- Jeff Hooks, event #4- Ron Gilbert and event #5- Matt Reed.  The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour would like to thank Mr. Cues II, Side Pockets Cue Club and Billiards and Richard Sweet for hosting these events.
 
Side Pockets Cue Club and Billiards hosted the final event of the 5 events series of The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour Nationals the weekend of September 6th & 7th.  The Event hosted 91 participants who came prepared to battle their way thru the competition for their share of the $7,215 prize fund up for grab this weekend.  The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour Events where played on 9 foot tables and the action continued all weekend long.  It kicked off on Saturday with The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tours $2500 Added Nationals Event which was won by Matt Reed but the story of the weekend was TF Whittington's fantasitic performance as he took 2nd Place.  TF Whittington worked his way through the bottom half of the bracket undefeated until the finals where Matt Reed came back to defeat him 7-4 in set #1 and 7-5 in set #2.  TF Whittington has been a regular on The Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour for many years and at 71 years young, he has had hip replacement surgery and over come other health related issues but he still has the heart to compete at his highest level and loves the sport of billiards, this was his first time to make it to the top of the payout list in a Viking Cue event. TF Whittington is truly an inspiration to all that love the sport of billiards and many a young players hero.
 
Matt Reed won the $1525 first place prize by beginning his roll in the top of the bracket and went undefeated until the match for the "Hot Seat" he began by drawing a bye in round one and proceed to defeat David Lancaster 7-5; Floyd Reasons 7-2; Dustin Byrd 7-3; Eddie Little 7-3; before he was sent to the left side of the chart by TF Whittington in the match for the "Hot Seat" 7-3. Reed defeated James Roberts 7-3 in the semi finals before he came back to defeat TF Whittington in the final.
 
TF Whittington made his way through the bottom of the chart undefeated until the finals sending his opponents to the one loss side beginning with Lisa D'Atri 7-3; David Watson 7-4; Jeff Tabet 7-6; Danny Turner 7-4; Josh Johnson 7-2; Matt Reed 7-3 before his loss in the finals to Reed.
 
The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour held a $100 entry winner take all mini tournament on Saturday nite with a format of a race to 7 single elmination and a $800 prize fund that was won by Bobby Connor Jr.
 
Sunday kicked off The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tours second event with a  race to 7W/5L double elmination that was won by Harold McAbee.
 
The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour will be at Murhpy's Brass Rail in Winder, GA for a $1000 Added Amateur only event on September 13th &14th.   Visit www.viking9balltour.com for the complete schedule of upcoming events and make sure to visit our wonderful sponsors websites for all your billiards needs, links to their websites can be found at www.viking9balltour.com.  We look foward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
 
The Viking Cue Raffle this weekend was won by long time Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour member Henry Cofer, congratulation Henry!
 
The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour $2500 Added National Event payouts:
1st $1525 Matt Reed
2nd $1000 TF Whittington
3rd $750 James Roberts
4th $550 Eddie Little
5/6th $350 each Josh Johnson / Matt Bulfin
7/8th $200 each Dustin Byrd / Floyd Reasons
9th/12th $100 each Bobby Connor / Jeff Tabet / Joe Hughes / Danny Turner
13th/16th $60 each John Salter / Marty Jennings / Shane Wade / Jeff Jordan
 
The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour $500 Added Sunday Event payouts:
1st $450 Harold McAbee
2nd $300 Scotty Waters
3rd $150 Steve Cox
4th $50 Jeff Jordan