Jason Rogers has been climbing steps in a victory ladder in this early going of 2018, although not in strict order. It’s been his best recorded earnings year, to date, and it’s only March. In competition on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, he finished 5th on Jan. 6-7, was runner-up three weeks later, and a week after that (Feb. 3), he stepped down a rung to finish third. On the weekend of March 24-25, he found himself in the hot seat, and though he’d be defeated in the opening set of a true double elimination final by Jason Brattain, he rallied to win the second set and claim the event title, his first on the tour since August of 2015. This most recent event drew 40 entrants to Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
The Rogers/Brattain matchup at the end almost happened early. Rogers advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Frank Owens (who’d just sent Brattain to the loss side), while Anthony Mabe faced Brian Beckham in the other one. Rogers and Mabe gave up one rack each to their respective opponents; Rogers downing Owens 8-1 and Mabe defeating Beckham 7-1. Rogers and Mabe battled to double hill in the hot seat match, and were it not for the final game, Rogers might have faced Brattain in the semifinals. Rogers won that deciding game, and it was Mabe who moved over to the semifinals.
Owens and Beckham moved to the loss side and immediately ran into their second straight loss. Owens’ loss was a forfeit, prompted by his absence on the tournament’s second day. Advancing automatically to the quarterfinals was Randall Bowman, who’d defeated Jesse White 7-4, and Tyson Key 7-2. Beckham ran into Brattain, who’d defeated Josh Padron, double hill, and Justin Martin 6-5 (Martin racing to 10). Brattain downed Beckham 6-2 to join Bowman in the quarterfinal match.
Brattain then defeated Bowman 6-4 in those quarterfinals. Moving on to the semifinals, he eliminated Mabe 6-5 (Mabe racing to 7).
With Rogers racing to 8, Brattain took the opening set of the true double elimination final 6-5. Rogers, though, came back to win the second set 8-4 and claim the event title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Brown’s 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 March 31-April 1, will be hosted by Randolph’s Billiards in Hickory, NC.
