Bobby Clinton went undefeated to claim his first Q City 9-Ball title on Sunday, May 1, brushing aside a challenge in the finals by James Blackburn. Blackburn is the owner of The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA, which hosted the event that drew 32 entrants to his room.
Blackburn was advancing through the winners' side bracket until he met up with Collin Hall in a winners' side quarterfinal. A 7-7 victory there (Blackburn racing to 9), set Hall up to face Daniel Adams in a winners' side semifinal. Clinton and James Clay squared off in the other one. Clinton advanced to the hot seat match 7-3 over Clay, and was met by Hall, who'd downed Adams 7-4. Clinton then defeated Hall 7-3 and waited in the hot seat for his host to return.
Blackburn opened his five-match, loss-side campaign with a 9-3 win over Chris England and followed it with a 9-4 victory over Andy Bowden. This set Blackburn up against Clay. Adams drew 16-year-old Hunter White, who'd eliminated Meaghan Reilly 7-3 and shut out Jordan Grubb to reach him.
Blackburn and White handed Clay and Adams their second straight defeat (9-2 and 7-2, respectively), and advanced to the quarterfinals. Blackburn ended the teenager White's run 9-4, earning himself a re-match against Hall in the semifinals. Blackburn then defeated Hall 9-3 for a shot at Clinton in the hot seat.
As the higher-ranked player, Blackburn was racing to 9, while Clinton was racing to 7. Clinton completed his undefeated run by giving up only a single rack to Blackburn and claiming the event title.
Tour Director Herman Parker thanked Blackburn and his staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Viking Cues, and Delta-13 Racks. The next stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of May 7-8, will be a $2,000-added event, hosted by Billy Macks Grill & Billiards in Mount Sterling, KY.
