Justin Duncan
Though Justin Duncan has four Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball titles on his resume, which date back to 2016, the only one in which the title was earned by competing and winning a final match was last June’s Scotch Doubles event. Duncan and Billy Fowler were in the hot seat when they lost the opening set of a true double elimination final, but came back to win the second set and claim that title. Duncan’s other three titles were earned when he went undefeated to the hot seat and by mutual agreement with his final opponent, split the top two prizes. Duncan did that twice with the same opponent (Greg Burke), once in September 2016, where they met in a winners’ side semifinal, won by Duncan, and again, in April 2017, when they met in the hot seat match, claimed by Duncan in what has been his best earnings year at the tables, to date.
This past Saturday, August 14, Duncan claimed his fourth official Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball title, allowing his victory over Bryant Cooper in the battle for the hot seat to stand as the definitive victory match. The $500-added event drew 45 entrants to Rockhouse Billiards in Gastonia, NC.
Duncan advanced through the field to arrive at his winners’ side semifinal match against Cole Lewis, as Cooper squared off against Jeff Underwood in the other one. Combined, Duncan and Cooper gave up only a single rack to earn their spot in the hot seat match (Cooper allowed Underwood that single rack in a 5-1 victory). Duncan then sent Cooper off to the semifinals 6-3 and in, effect, claimed the event title.
On the loss side, Lewis and Underwood walked right into the first money round and their second straight loss. Lewis met Hank Powell, who’d defeated Amber Jackson 8-1 and Bruce Campbell 8-4, before downing Lewis 8-5 and moving into the quarterfinals. Underwood drew Brian Francis, who’d eliminated Brian Pyle 6-4 and Ray Mullinax 6-1 before also eliminating Underwood 6-5 (Underwood racing to 7) and joining Powell in the quarterfinals.
Powell took the quarterfinal match 8-3 and in what proved to be the last match of the event, was eliminated by Cooper 5-6 in the semifinals. Duncan and Cooper agreed to the split, with Duncan entering the official record books as the official winner.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the new ownership and staff of the newly-renovated Rockhouse Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, BarPoolTables.net, Dirty South Grind Apparel Co., Diamond Brat, Federal Savings Bank’s Mortgage Division and AZBilliards. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for August 21-22, will be a $250-added event to be hosted by Mickey Milligan’s in New Bern, NC.
