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Junior competitor Hunter Zayas wins* his first Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour stop

November 25th, 2020 | azhousepro | Uncategorized

Hunter Zayas

He’ll take it.

Though 14-year-old Hunter Zayas’ first win on a major tour comes with an asterisk, indicating the absence of a final match, the fact that he made it to the hot seat undefeated was, in itself, something of a proverbial ‘feather in his cap.’ Added to that, the knowledge that he had, in fact, already defeated the opponent he would have faced in the final (Billy Fowler), most likely had the youngster justifiably pleased with his performance this past weekend (Nov. 21-22). The feat was performed at the $500-added annual Turkey Bowl event on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour that drew 41 entrants to Break & Run Billiards in Chesnee, SC.

Zayas and Fowler advanced to their respective winners’ side semifinal matches. Zayas squared off against Jason Gardner, as Fowler faced Jeff Abernathy. Zayas got into the hot seat match with a 6-3 win over Gardner and was joined by Fowler, who’d sent Abernathy to the loss side 10-6. Zayas began the only match he and Fowler would play, battling for the hot seat, with four beads on the wire in a race to 10. He and Fowler chalked up six racks each, but the advantage gave the hot seat to Zayas.

On the loss side, Gardner drew Montez Lloyd, who’d defeated Rudy Maybin 6-4 and Steven Ellis 6-2 to reach him. Abernathy picked up Ryan Hollingsworth, who’d eliminated Justin Duncan 8-3 and Shane Cooper 8-4.

Lloyd advanced to the quarterfinals 6-2 over Gardner. He was joined by Abernathy, who’d defeated Hollingsworth 9-5. Abernathy advanced one more step, downing Lloyd in those quarterfinals 9-3.

Fowler ended Abernathy’s brief sojourn on the loss side with a 10-4 victory in the semifinals. It was the last match of the evening, as Fowler and Zayas agreed to the split. As the undefeated hot seat occupant, Zayas laid claim to his first title.

Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Break & Run Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Bar Pool Tables, JB Magic Templates, AZBilliards, Tickler Pool Ball Washing Machine, Skyline Construction, Federal Savings Bank Mortgage Division and Dirty South Grind Apparel Co. With four stops left in 2020, the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour will visit Jac’s All-American Billiards, Brews & More in Newport, TN this weekend (Nov. 28-29) for a Scotch Doubles event.

Coffey goes undefeated to chalk up first win* on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour

July 29th, 2020 | azhousepro | Uncategorized

We welcomed Taylor Coffey to the AZBilliards database on the 4th of July weekend, when he finished in the tie for 5th place at a stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour at Janet Atwell’s room, Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN. Three weeks later, on Saturday, July 25, at Break & Run Billiards in Chesnee, SC, Coffey went undefeated to record his first win on the tour or anywhere, for that matter. He and Billy Fowler opted out of a final match, so the victory comes with a standard asterisk. The $500-added event drew 38 entrants to Break & Run Billiards.

The two did not compete against each other. Fowler got sent to the loss side by BJ Ussery, who advanced to meet Coffey in one of the winners’ side semifinals. Cameron Lawhorne and Chris Kendrick met in the other one. Coffey defeated Ussery 5-9 (Ussery racing to 12) and in the hot seat match, faced Lawhorne, who’d sent Kendrick to the loss side, double hill. Coffey claimed the hot seat over Lawhorne 5-2.

On the loss side, Ussery picked up Brett Underwood, who’d defeated Reene Driskill 7-3 and Gary South 7-5 to reach him. Kendrick drew Fowler, who, following his defeat at the hands of Ussery, had won two straight double hill matches, eliminating Jose Irizarry and Rick Harrison (both 9-5).

Fowler won his third straight 9-5 match, against Kendrick, and advanced to the quarterfinals. Ussery joined him after a 12-3 victory over Underwood.

With Ussery racing to 12, Fowler took that quarterfinal match 9-4 and then, with another 9-4 score, won the last match of the evening, eliminating Lawhorne in the semifinals. He and Coffey opted out of the final match, leaving Coffey, as the undefeated occupant of the hot seat, with the event title.

Tour director Herman Parker, who continues to recover from issues that hospitalized him a couple of weeks ago began his list of ‘thank you’s with his wife, Angela, who, in his absence, has been carrying on solo at what has now become three events. She’s always been on hand, but Herman was generally the person who would handle the nuts and bolts of organizing the tournament, once on site. She’s stepped up (and in) and done, according to Herman, a terrific job in his absence. The two also thanked title sponsor Viking Cues, Bar Pool Tables, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards, Tickler Pool Ball Washing Machine, Skyline Construction, Federal Savings Bank Mortgage Division and Dirty South Grind Apparel Co.

The Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour will take a short break this coming weekend, during which Herman will continue his steady, but too-slow-as-far-as-he’s-concerned recovery. The tour will return the following weekend (August 8-9), when it will do “something a little different,” by conducting a Scotch Doubles tournament back at Janet Atwell’s room, Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN.