Harry Cooper parlayed a mid-level handicap with some deft shooting to go undefeated on the Saturday, August 5 stop on the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour.  He was challenged by separate opponents – one with a much higher, and one with just a little higher handicap – in the hot seat match and finals, but stayed the course and won the title. The $500-added event drew 31 entrants to Legend's Billiards in Inman, SC.

 

Cooper,  racing to 5 in his matches, advanced through two rounds of play to meet up with Kyle Bailey in a winners' side semifinal. Bailey had just sent Cooper's eventual opponent in the finals, Steve Ellis, to the loss side. Brian White, in the meantime, racing to 10 in his matches, faced Mike Jones. Bailey and Jones each chalked up three racks in their matches, while Cooper and White scored their 5 and 10, respectively, to advance to the hot seat match. Cooper and White played to a 5-5 tie, which, with White racing to 10, left Cooper in the hot seat, and White moving over to the semifinals.

 

On the loss side, Steve Ellis, racing to 6, started his trip back to the finals with a 6-3 win over Jerry Varnado, and a 6-4 win over Richard Wojnarowski, which set him (Ellis) up to face Jones. Bailey drew teenage phenom Hunter White (no relation to Brian), who'd defeated Rick Daniels and Mackie Lowery, both 9-2, to reach him.

 

Ellis downed Jones 6-4, and in the quarterfinals, met up with Bailey, who'd eliminated White 6-7 (White racing to 9). In a straight-up race to 6, Ellis defeated Bailey 6-3, and faced Brian White in the semifinals. In a match faintly reminiscent of the hot seat match (a tie, won by the lower-handicapped player), Ellis downed White 6-6, completing a five-match, loss-side winning streak and advanced to the finals.

 

In handicap-effect, hot seat occupant Cooper started the final match with one rack on the wire in a race to 5. He completed his undefeated run with a 5-3 victory that earned him the event title.

 

Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Legend's Billiards, 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 August 12-13,  will be hosted by The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA.

 

The Sport 9 Ladies Tour opened its 2014 season on March 7th, 2014 at the Southaven Rec Center in Southaven, MS with two great events. The bar table mini open event started Friday night attracted 28 players competing for prize money and a premium cue case provided by Ozone Billiards. Blake Todd from Memphis, TN went undefeated, taking 1st place prize money and winner of the 2×4 grey lizard cue case. Danny Key, also from Memphis, TN, played a great game and collected 2nd place prize money. Jeff Sarbeck, from Southaven, MS, placed 3rd and Mike Jones from Mobile, AL came in 4th.

 

The Sport 9 Ladies event started Saturday morning, March 8th, with 12 ladies hailing from TN, AL, MS, MO and GA to compete for points and $525 in prize money. The ladies battled all day and night on the big tables race to 7 on the winners side and race to 5 on the losers side. Many of the matches went double hill, but coming out on top was 2013 Sport 9 Tour Champion Janeen Lee from Hattiesburg, MS taking home 1st place prize and points. Hot seat winner and newcomer, Kristan Tidwell from Decatur, AL took 2nd place. In 3rd place was local favorite Mackenzie Selby. Heather Middleton, sponsored by The Moneyball in Caruthersville, MO, proudly took home 4th place.

 

Sport 9 Tour would like to thank gracious host, Bill Rowsey, owner of Southaven Rec, and staff for their wonderful hospitality. Also, a huge thanks goes out to our supporters and sponsors including Bob Hunt, referee, Paul Frankel (Professor- Q-Ball) media relations, Josh Gilmore (Fair Game Clothing) photos, Ozone Billiards, Focus Gear, ingenPool (tournament software), GoPlayPool, and AZBilliards.

 

The next event will be held at Bumpers Billiards in Huntsville, Alabama on April 11th weekend. Sport 9 Tour is preparing for another successful event which will be its first live streamed event! Be sure to get front row seats!