Greg Burke and Todd Noble opted to let their hot seat match stand as the title match at the conclusion of the Saturday, August 29 stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour. The undefeated Noble claimed title to the event that drew 27 entrants to The Smokin' Cue in Hickory, NC.
Noble defeated Josh Padron 6-3 in one winners' side semifinal, while Burke sent David Lear over 7-3. Noble claimed the hot seat 6-5 (Burke racing to 7) in what proved to be his last match of the evening.
Padron and Lear moved to the loss side and picked up Jeff Pate and Matt Lucas. Lucas had defeated Justin Clark 4-2 and David Best 4-4 (Best racing to 6) to reach Lear. Pate, who'd been sent to the loss side by Padron, was in the midst of a six-match, loss-side winning streak that would carry him to the semifinals. He'd gotten by Stevie McClinton 8-5 and Cameron Tuten 8-3 to draw his rematch against Padron.
Pate successfully navigated that re-match 8-2 and in the quarterfinals, faced Lear, who'd eliminated Lucas 7-3. Pate then chalked up his sixth and final loss-side victory 8-4 over Lear.
In the event's final match, Burke stopped Pate's loss-side streak 7-3. He and Noble opted out of the final match, leaving the undefeated Noble as the event winner, while the two split the top two money prizes.
The Q City 9-Ball Tour will visit Hickory, NC on Labor Day weekend (September 5-6). The event will be hosted by Randolph's Billiards.
