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.

Tiger Smart held their inaugural event on May 25, 2013 at Grady’s Billiards in Lexington South Carolina.  The tournament drew fifteen players from four states including Dana Aft, Faith Thompson, Aileen Nguyen, and Christa Lemmons from Georgia, Cheryl Pritchard and Janet Atwell from Virginia, Marianne Merrill and Lisa Cossette from North Carolina, and rounding out the field were JoAnn Barnes, Katherine Spence, Heather Lakatos, Priscilla Harsey, Jackie Corley and Belinda Calhoun from South Carolina.  “I was very pleased with the participation for our first event” said 

Belinda Calhoun, Tiger SMART Tour Director.  The owner of Grady’s Billiards, Crystal Lloyd, was presented with a certificate of appreciation during the players meeting.

 

Competition was fiercely fought as seven matches went hill-hill or 7-5 in the race to seven, rack your own, alternate break format. Surprise of the tournament was Crystal Lloyd, host of the event, who rifled through the winner’s bracket including impressive wins over Janet Atwell and Belinda Calhoun.  The hot seat match with Dana Aft who also cruised through the winners bracket with victories over Pritchard, Thompson and Corley, was the match of the tournament! At hill-hill, Crystal plays a safety on the six-ball where the cue ball stays up, deep in the corner pocket.  Dana is completely hooked by the nine.  The six, seven, and nine are left.  Crystal had to be thinking she had Dana at this point. Dana kicks behind the six and makes it in the side with good shape on the seven!  Remember these two players are battling not only for the hot seat but most likely the winner will win the entry and spot into the Ultimate 10-ball.  Dana just misses the seven leaving Crystal with a little tester.  Winner game, set, and hot seat, Lloyd.

                                                                                                      

Meanwhile, Janet Atwell, WPBA veteran, is climbing thru the one loss side. She takes out Cheryl Pritchard 7-3, Belinda Calhoun 7-5, and Dana Aft 7-1 to reach the 1one set, race to nine, final. Janet was in a good rhythm and with steely, composed shooting took the match and the title! As second place finisher, Crystal Lloyd wins the qualifying spot and entry for the Ultimate 10ball Championship in Tunica MS next month.  Other notable finishers include Faith Thompson and Jackie Corley in 5th-6th.

 

Tiger SMART would like to thank its partners and sponsors: Tiger Products, Inc., Aramith, Simonis, T&S Printing Company, and Billiards Digest for helping to make Tiger SMART’S first event a success. Congratulations to Katherine Spence, Irmo, SC, who won a one year subscription to Billiards Digest. SMART would also like to acknowledge Corey Epps of Channel 19, WLTX for coverage of the event.

 

Thanks to all the players who participated. Cheryl Pritchard, Associate Tour Director, said, “the South Carolina girls really showed their support for SMART and the WPBA playing extremely well despite being first timers to this format, and they represented South Carolina  very well.”