Shannon Fitch
Shannon Fitch, probably best known as the competitor who thwarted Mike Davis’ hopes of defending his NC State 10-Ball Championship in 2016, was back at work on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour on Saturday, May 26. He went undefeated through a field of 35 entrants to claim the event title. The event was hosted by Break Time Billiards in Cary, NC.
Fitch’s advancement through the field brought him to a winners’ side semifinal against Donnie Stewart. Teenager Peter Abatangelo, in the meantime, squared off against Q-City 9-Ball veteran JT Ringgold. Fitch got into the hot seat match with an 11-5 victory over Stewart, and was joined by Abatangelo, who’d sent Ringgold to the loss side 7-4. Fitch claimed his first of two over Abatangelo and sat in the hot seat to await his return.
On the loss side, Ringgold picked up Kelly Farrar, who’d defeated Graham Swinson and David Brown 6-4 to reach him. Stewart drew Scott Roberts, who’d gotten by Jeff Young 8-4 and Joey Tate 8-3. It was Stewart and Farrar who advanced to the quarterfinals; Farrar eliminating Ringgold 6-6, and Stewart eliminating Roberts 6-7.
Stewart took the quarterfinal match over Farrar 6-4, and had his loss-side run ended by Abatangelo 7-3 in the semifinals. Fitch, though, was not to be denied. He defeated Abatangelo a second time 11-4 to claim the event title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Breaktime Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend (June 2-3), will be a $1,000-added event, hosted by The Steakhorse in Spartanburg, SC.
