Johnny Walker has cashed five times in six years of playing on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour. He was runner-up to then-teenager Hunter White at an event in Cary, NC in June, 2016. It was the closest he’d come to the winners’ circle until this past weekend (Sat. July 31) when he went undefeated to claim his first event title and make it six cash finishes in six years; three of them this year. The event drew 40 entrants to Still Cluckin in Providence, NC.
Walker and Billy Richardson worked through the field to arrive at the winners’ side semifinal matches. Richardson versus Chad Snody and Walker taking on Brandon McGuire. Richardson and Snody battled to double hill before Richardson prevailed. Walker sent McGuire to the loss side 6-2. Walker claimed the hot seat 6-3 over Richardson and waited on what turned out to be the return of McGuire.
On the loss side, Snody picked up Chris Rhoades, who’d defeated Mike Hagood 6-3 and Tony Wall 6-1 to reach him. McGuire drew Michael Robertson, who’d recently sent Juan Rojas (6-4) and Jonathan Ailstock (double hill) home.
Snody and McGuire got right back to work, handing Rhoades and Robertson their second loss; Snody 6-3 over Rhoades and McGuire 6-1 over Robertson. McGuire then eliminated Snody in the quarterfinals 6-2. McGuire completed his return to the finals having given up only four racks in 22 loss-side games that included his 6-1 victory over Richardson in the semifinals.
McGuire’s 81% game-winning average on the loss side was trumped by Johnny Walker’s 88% game-winning average in the only set necessary in the true double elimination final. Walker completed his undefeated run with a 6-1 victory to claim his first tour title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked Tommy and Tonya Lunsford and their Still Cluckin staff for their hospitality, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, BarPoolTables.net, Dirty South Grind Apparel Co., Diamond Brat, Federal Savings Bank’s Mortgage Division and AZBilliards. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend, Aug. 7-8, will be a $500-added event ($1,000-added with 64-plus entrants), hosted by The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA.
Though a combination of other nearby events and the occasion of Father’s Day put a damper on total attendance, the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour held a single-day, double-event stop last weekend (June 19). A 9-ball event, on 7 ft. bar tables, which drew 22 entrants, was won by Brandon McGuire, who went undefeated. A One Pocket event, on 9 ft. Diamond tables, which featured a $100 entry fee, drew 9 entrants and was won by Ron Frank, Jr., who, following a defeat at the hands of Shane Jackson in the hot seat match, came back to defeat him in the finals. The two events were hosted by Railbirds Billiards in Hickory, NC.
The father/son combination of Ron Frank, Jr. and Trey Frank featured prominently in both events. Dad went home the day before Father’s Day with the One Pocket title, while son Trey finished as runner-up in the 9-ball event, which featured the unrealized potential of a father-son quarterfinal.
In the 9-ball tourney, Brandon McGuire advanced to a winners’ side semifinal versus Jerry Hilton, while Jeff Howell and Josh Allen squared off in the other one. McGuire and Hilton battled to double hill before McGuire prevailed, sending Hilton to the 5/6 matches on the loss side. Allen moved west, as well, defeated by Howell 7-1. McGuire claimed the hot seat 5-2 over Howell and waited on the return of what turned out to be Trey Frank.
On the loss side, Trey Frank, who’d been sent over by his Dad in the second round, picked up a forfeit victory over Jonathan Ailstock and defeated Jamie Green 7-4 to draw Hilton. Allen drew Ron Frank. Trey did his part, advancing to the quarterfinals 7-5 over Hilton. Dad, though, was defeated by Josh Allen 5-6 (Frank racing to 8).
Trey eliminated Josh Allen 7-3 and then earned himself a shot at McGuire in the hot seat with a 7-5 victory over Jeff Howell in the semifinals. McGuire concluded his undefeated run with a 5-3 win over Trey Frank in the finals.
Frank, Jr. and Jackson battle twice for One Pocket title.
Ron Frank, Jr. and Shane Jackson played two double hill matches to decide who’d bring home the $450 first-place prize in the One Pocket event. Jackson won the first one. Frank, Jr. won the second to claim that title.
They’d both advanced through two rounds to the winners’ side semifinals. They both defeated their opponents in those winners’ side semifinals 3-1; Frank over Matt Harrell and Jackson over Hunter White. Jackson claimed the hot seat in the first of the two double hill matches he’d play against Frank.
On the loss side, Harrell ran into Jonathan Ailstock, who’d shut out Lee Steelman to reach him. Hunter White picked up Jerry Hilton, who’d eliminated Doug Young and Robert Hamilton, both 2-1. White shut Hilton out and in the quarterfinals, faced Ailstock, who’d sent Harrell home 2-1.
White then shut out Ailstock in those quarterfinals and entered the semifinals versus Frank without having given up a single rack in either of his loss-side matches. He gave up two to Frank in those semifinals and chalked up only one himself.
Frank moved on to his second double hill match against Jackson. This one, he won to claim the event title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked Steven and Leslie Hughes and the Railbirds’ staff for their hospitality, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, BarPoolTables.net, Dirty South Grind Apparel Co., Diamond Brat, Federal Savings Bank’s Mortgage Division and AZBilliards. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of June 26-27, will be hosted by Jac’s All-American Billiards in Newport, TN.
