Dustin Byrd had a lunch date with his Mom on Mother’s Day, May 14. He missed that luncheon date when his performance on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour on Saturday, May 13 dictated a return to the tables on Sunday. He capitalized on that lost lunch and the potential for any Mom ‘payback’ by winning three straight double hill matches to complete an undefeated run, and then dedicating the win to his mother, Denise. The $1,000-added event drew 51 entrants to Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, GA.
Byrd faced Bernardo Hernandez twice in this event; hot seat and finals. He got into the hot seat match with a double hill win over Corey Morphew, as Hernandez was busy sending Greg Burke to the loss side 9-4. Byrd claimed the hot seat, double hill (6-8; Hernandez racing to 9) and waited on Hernandez’ return.
On the loss side, Morphew picked up Steve Thompson, who’d lost his opening match and was in the midst of a nine-match, loss-side winning streak that had advanced him through the first money round (9/12), defeating Justin Clark 6-5 and then downed Hadi Lee 6-3. Burke drew Matt Lucas, who’d eliminated Jeff Jordan and Henry Cofer, both 5-3, to reach him.
With Morphew racing to 9, Thompson advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-8 win over him. He was joined by Burke, who’d defeated Lucas 7-1. Thompson chalked up his last, loss-side win with a 6-4 victory over Burke.
Hernandez defeated Thompson 9-4 in the semifinals to earn himself a second shot against Byrd in the hot seat. Hernandez may have forgotten that it was Mother’s Day, and possibly didn’t know that Byrd had something of a promise to keep. Byrd reminded him with a second double hill win that allowed him to claim the title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Mr. Cues II, 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 May 20-21, will be hosted by Gate City Billiards in Greensboro, NC.
