JT Ringgold
About five years ago, Joshua Terrence Hughes Ringgold, better known since early childhood by virtually everyone as JT Ringgold, started competing on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour as a ‘C’ player. On this past weekend, July 7-8, playing as an A++ player, he chalked up his 12th victory on the tour, double the number of wins of any other tour competitor. Ringgold went undefeated through a field of 60 entrants at the event, hosted by Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN.
Ringgold advanced through the field to a winners’ side semifinal match against Gwen Sharpton, as Dalton Messer faced Stevie Thomas in the other one. Ringgold shut Sharpton out and advanced to the hot seat match. He was joined by Messer, who’d defeated Thomas 5-2. Ringgold claimed the hot seat 10-2 over Messer, and waited on his return from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Sharpton picked up Ricky Bingham, who, moving into the event’s money rounds, had defeated Dustin Coe 5-3 and Ikey Maynard, double hill (5-6) to reach her. Thomas drew Trey Frank, recent winner over William Cloud 6-1 and Jose Irizarry 6-3. Sharpton advanced to the quarterfinals 4-2 over Bingham, and was joined by Frank, who’d eliminated Thomas 6-3.
Sharpton and Frank locked up in a double hill, quarterfinal battle. Sharpton won it 4-5 (Frank racing to 6) and turned to face Messer in the semifinals. Messer gave up only a single rack to Sharpton in those semifinals to earn a re-match against Ringgold.
Messer started the finals with ‘five on the wire’ in a race to 10 against Ringgold, needing to win twice to deny Ringgold his 12th tour title. Though he would chalk up four of the five racks he needed to win it, Ringgold prevailed to claim that 12th title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked Janet Atwell and her staff at Borderline Billiards, as well as title sponsor 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 (July 14-15) will be the 4th Annual North Carolina State 10-Ball Championships. Defending champion Reymart Lim is expected to be ‘in the house’ for this event, to be hosted by Brass Tap Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
