JT Ringold with daughter Luella
He never really left, but since he figured in the cash payouts of 15 events in 2018 (his best recorded earnings year) and 12 more in 2019, Virginia’s JT Ringgold’s TAT (time at tables) had slipped down to seven total cash payouts between January, 2020 and this past weekend (June 22-23, 2024). The photo accompanying this report provides a hint as to what he’s been doing. He had, at the time of his last (previous) win on the PremierBilliards.com’s Q City 9-Ball Tour (June 2019), been the competitor with the most wins on the tour. BJ Ussery, Jr. has passed him in that most-wins category, though he’s still #2 on the list.
Ringgold added to his list of Q City 9-Ball Tour victories with an undefeated run at a $250-added event that drew 31 entrants to Mickey Milligan’s in New Bern, NC this past weekend. He faced separate opponents in the hot seat and finals, downing Wilson Dorsey in the former and in the final, Mac Harrell, who’d lost his opening round match to Kaitlyn Giddens 6-4 and won eight on the loss side to face Ringgold in the final.
Racing to 10 throughout, Ringgold never gave up more than five racks during his six-match run to the title. Dorsey was the only one to chalk up five against him in their hot seat match.
Ringgold’s opponents averaged only three+ racks against him, commencing with Tracy Hardie (4) and continuing through Jerry Shepherd (1) and Eddie Almonte (3), at which point he drew Jim Courter in one of the winners’ side semifinals. Dorsey, in the meantime, racing to 8, got by Damon Kotke (3), Wayne Miller (1) and Eddie Williams (4) and drew Joe Blanton in the other winners’ side semifinal.
Ringgold got into the hot seat match with a 10-4 victory over Courter. Dorsey joined him for the hot seat match after sending Blanton over 8-4. Ringgold claimed the hot seat 10-5 over Dorsey.
On the loss side, Mac Harrell was five matches into his loss-side streak when Blanton joined the ‘party’ to challenge him. Harrell had recently eliminated Jack Whitfield and Eddie Almonte, both 8-5. Courter arrived to pick up Eddie Williams, who’d followed his loss to Dorsey with wins over Dona Selman 6-1 and Kaitlyn Giddens 6-2.
Harrell got into the quarterfinals with an 8-3 win over Blanton, as Courter was busy shutting out Williams to join him. Harrell gave up only two to Courter and then, played an almost-double hill match (8-6) against Dorsey in the semifinals.
Ringgold completed his undefeated run, ending Harrell’s impressive loss-side run 10-4 and claiming his first Q City 9-Ball title in five years.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked Kayla and Jacob Corley and their Mickey Milligan’s staff for their hospitality, along with title sponsor PremierBilliards.com, BarPoolTables.net (Randy Tate), Breaktime Billiards in Winston-Salem, NC, TKO Custom Cues and Realty One Group results (Kirk Overcash), Dirty South Grind Apparel (Angela Harlan-Parker), Federal Savings Bank (Alex Narod), CHC Underground (Chris Clary), Run Racks Worldwide Apparel (Wanderer Kelly) and AZBilliards.
The next stop on the PremierBilliards.com’s Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend, June 29-30, will be a $500-added event, hosted by Action Billiards in Inman, SC.
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