Jonathan Ailstock brushed aside a double hill defeat in the opening set of a true double elimination final on the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour and came back to down Collin Hall in the second set to claim the event title. The event, held on the weekend of June 3-4, drew 28 entrants to The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA.
Ailstock and Hall had almost met in the hot seat match, but Hall was sent to the loss side 9-2 in a winners' side semifinal against Ron Frank. Ailstock, in the meantime, defeated Justin Clark 7-3 to join Frank in the hot seat battle, won by Ailstock 7-4.
Hall moved to the loss side and picked up Brent Hensley, who'd defeated Trey Frank (Ron Frank's son) 7-4 and Scott Roberts 7-5 to reach him. Clark drew Greg Taylor, who'd eliminated Steves Dye and McClinton, 9-3 and 9-6, respectively. Hall defeated Hensley 7-3, while Clark downed Taylor 6-5 (Taylor racing to 9).
Hall took the quarterfinal match against Clark 7-2, and then, with the elder Frank racing to 9, eliminated him 7-7, for a shot at Ailstock in the hot seat. The two battled to double hill in the opening set of the true double elimination final before Hall prevailed, forcing a second set. Ailstock rallied and allowed Hall only three racks in the second set to win and claim the event title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at The Clubhouse (who'd agreed to host the event, after a last-minute change of venue), 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 June 10-11, will be hosted by Corner Pockets in Fayetteville, NC.
