It almost came down to teenagers battling for the event title. On Saturday, March 26, Dakota Harris, a two-time Tennessee junior champion, became the first under-18 player to win a stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, and he did it the hard way, from deep on the loss side. In his quest for the title, he ran into another teenager, Hunter White, in the semifinals. The event drew 40 entrants to the Smokin' Cue in Charlotte, NC.
As Harris was toiling away on the loss side, following a third round loss to Jeff Abernathy, White was advancing to a winners' side semifinal versus Jason Blackwell. Matt Lucas and Zach Leonard squared off in the other winners' side semifinal. White defeated Blackwell 7-3, and in the hot seat match, faced Lucas, who'd sent Leonard over in a double hill match. With White racing to 7, Lucas claimed the hot seat 4-4, and waited on Harris.
On the loss side, Harris chalked up wins #3 and #4 against Cole Parsons 5-3, and Justin Clark 5-4, to draw Blackwell. Leonard picked up Shannon Fitch, who'd eliminated Abernathy 11-5 and David Brown 11-3. Harris downed Blackwell 5-3, as Leonard was busy defeating Fitch 7-7 (Fitch, racing to 11).
In a double hill quarterfinal match, Harris prevailed to set up the teenaged semifinal; Harris versus Hunter White. With White racing to 7, Harris won it 5-4 and turned to a double elimination final versus Lucas in the hot seat. They fought to double hill in the opening set before Harris prevailed to force a second. He took the second set 5-2 to lay claim to the event title; the first by an under-18 competitor in the tour's history.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff of the Smokin' Cue for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Viking Cues, Delta-13 Racks, Goplaypool.com, and Heidrich Custom Cues.
