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.
