Jonathan Ailstock ended 2015 with a third place finish in the Action Pool Tour's Season Finale, behind the tour's #1 and #2-ranked players, Brandon Shuff and Shaun Wilkie. He fell to Wilkie in the hot seat match, and then, Shuff (who went on to win the event) in the semifinals. Ailstock started 2016 on an equally positive note, going undefeated to take first place in the February 6 stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour. The event drew 55 entrants to Chandley's Chalk and Cue in Statesville, NC.
There were a couple of 'wild cards' in the race; professional Jeffrey Ignacio, who, while a majority of the players raced to anywhere from 6 to 9, had to reach 13 to win a match, and Jeff Abernathy, who had to reach 11 in his matches. They both advanced to the winners' side semifinals. Ignacio faced Ailstock (racing to 6), while Abernathy squared off against 17-year-old Justin Martin (racing to 9). Ailstock sent Ignacio to the loss side 6-7, while Abernathy downEd Martin 11-5. Ailstock claimed the hot seat 6-8 over Abernathy and waited on his return, which didn't happen until about 3 a.m. on Sunday morning.
On the loss side, Ignacio picked up Rick Roper, who'd gotten by Scott Lewis 7-5 (Lewis racing to 10), and Ron Frank 7-6 (Frank racing to 9). Martin drew Mike Hancock, who'd defeated Mike Robertson 6-3 and Jody Musselman, double hill. Roper ended Ignacio's day 6-6, while Martin survived a double hill match against Hancock (9-5).
Martin then defeated Roper 9-3 in the quarterfinals. Abernathy ended Martin's run 11-4 to earn a second shot against Ailstock in the hot seat. With Abernathy racing to 11, and needing to defeat Ailstock twice, Ailstock completed his undefeated run with a 6-7 victory in the only set necessary.
The next stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour will be the 2nd Annual North Carolina 9-Ball State Championships, scheduled for February 13-14. The $1,000-added event will be hosted by Brass Tap & Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
