Yuta Morooka, a top-ranked (#26) player in Japan, signed on to compete in the Q City 9-Ball Tour on Saturday, July 9. Morooka advanced to the hot seat, after defeating James Blackburn and was to have faced Blackburn again in the finals. The two opted out of a final match, leaving Morooka as the official, undefeated winner. The event drew 39 entrants to Diamond Billiards in Midlothian, VA.
After defeating Scott Roberts 8-4 in a winners' side semifinal, Morooka faced James Blackburn in the hot seat match. Blackburn had sent Colin Hall to the loss side 9-3 in the other winners' side semifinal. Morooka won his last match, claiming the hot seat 8-7 over Blackburn (Blackburn racing to 9).
On the loss side, Hall picked up Terry Ringgold, who'd defeated Paul Swinson 4-3 (Swinson racing to 7) and Delton Hairfield, double hill (4-6). Roberts drew Doug Hornsby, who'd eliminated David Hairfield (brother to Delton) and Terry Ringgold's son, J.T. Ringgold, both 7-6.
Hall shut the elder Ringgold out, as Hornsby downed Roberts 7-4. Hall took the quarterfinal match 6-3 over Hornsby, and was then defeated in the final match of the night, falling to Blackburn, double hill (9-5). Morooka and Blackburn chose not to play the final match, and Morooka claimed the event title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Diamond Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, and Delta-13 racks. The next stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of July 16-17, will be the North Carolina State 10-Ball Championship. The $1,000-added Open event will be hosted by The Brass Tap in Raleigh, NC.
