Orange goes undefeated to capture his first Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball title
Tim Orange
Tim Orange has been at the tables for a baker’s-dozen years, commencing (as far as we know) in 2005, when he won the T-Town Billiards Classic in Tuscaloosa, AL, defeating Jonathan “Hennessee from Tennessee” Pinegar in the finals. He’s chalked up a few wins and cashed on a variety of tours and events in the years since, and on the weekend of November 11-12, he added his first win on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour to his modest, but very much on-going list of accomplishments. The $500-added event drew 27 entrants to Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, GA.
Orange had to get by Jeff Crawford twice in this event, meeting him first in a winners’ side semifinal, as Jeff Hooks squared off against Derek Fountain. Orange sent Crawford to the loss side 9-6, and in the hot seat match, faced Hooks, who’d defeated Fountain 7-3. Orange gave up only a single rack to Hooks in the hot seat match, and waited for Crawford to return.
On the loss side, Crawford picked up Raed Shabib, who’d defeated Faith Thompson 8-3 and 75-year-old BR Tatum 8-6. Fountain drew Raoul Aviles, who’d eliminated Michael Fletcher 7-1 and Shane Bridges 7-3.
Crawford and Shabib locked up in a double hill battle that eventually sent Crawford to the quarterfinals. Aviles, in the meantime, finished Fountain’s weekend 7-5. Crawford won the ensuing quarterfinal match 9-5 over Aviles, and then spoiled Hooks’ re-match-against-Orange bid 9-6 in the semifinals.
Momentum and an eagerness to avenge the earlier loss may have been on Crawford’s mind entering the finals, but Orange’s desire to chalk up the event title proved stronger. Not, though, without a fight, as the two battled to a deciding game, before Orange complete his undefeated run.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Mr. Cues II, 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 this weekend (November 18-19) will be a $1,000-added (total) event, featuring two separate tournaments; a $500-added handicapped event on Saturday, November 18 and a $500-added Open event, on Sunday, November 19. Both will be hosted by Q Master Billiards in Virginia Beach, VA.