Post by NigelS on Dec 3, 2007 2:09:16 GMT
The big event of the day, and I have to say the standard was exceptional, probably the highest quality bar billiards event I have ever participated in.
Brian Daniels bought 8 new sets of balls for the day, and boy did it make a difference. So big thanks to him for that.
16 players were split into 4 groups of 4, winners to go through to semis.
Group A featured number 1 seed Nigel Senior, Steven Sheard, Jersey finalist Jim Millward and Richard Wooton. 1 win apiece after two matches and the players knew at this stage aggregates would come into play and at this point less than 6k seperated all 4 players. Richard drew first blood with a 20,210 break against Steven and Jim took a 12k score and 10k lead into leg 2 against Nigel Senior, but the 2k Nigel had got was to prove crucial. Steven responded with 21,130 and thought he was through but Nigel got a 19,920 break to beat Jim and edge out Steven on aggregate 49,850 to 45,770.
Group B had England number 1 Kevin Tunstall, Paul Sainsbury, Ray Sturgess and Tony Webster. KT and Paul setup a deciding match when they beat the other 2 players in the group. They had a great match but Paul slipped up on 15k (in 12 mins), KT came back with 6k!! and then did enough in leg 2 to go through unbeaten (with an average of 12,220). Ray Sturgess was third but still had an 8,107 average despite winning only 1 game - I did say the standard was high!
Group C was dominated by Chris Reeves. He won all three matches at an average of 11,048, with a highlight of a 21,370 break in his win over Mal Spier. The other 3 players still played very well all averaging over 5k and won a match each, and finished in the order of Mark Brewster (38,790), Mark Trafford (35,810) and Mal Spier (33,280)
Group D was tough with Gareth Lloyd, Phil Collins, Leon Beer and Alan Chaloner. Alan struggled to live with these three who were really on top form. Lloydy was in pole position after two wins from 2 and basically was 10k up (after a 37k score against poor Alan) on Phil Collin's aggregate with him left to play. Leon had an outside chance after a great fightback from 17k down to beat Phil Collins, but was still 20k down on Gareth with Alan left to play. Leon scored 19k against Alan, which was not enough to overtake Gareth but Phil ran out the first leg for 17,440 against Gareth now putting him now 7k up on Gareth. Unfortunately for Gareth a pegged 9k break essentially helped put Phil through at his expense. I hope you can follow that - it did have a lot of twists and turns!
There was no let up in the semis. Chris Reeves started against KT and ran the table out for just under 21k. Phil Collins went hell for leather against Nigel playing it out for 22k. KT was up to the task and seemed to glide past Chris's score and even missed on 21,600 but Chris couldn't make the 700 he needed as the bar just dropped. Nigel wasn't quite as up to the task breaking down on 10,500 probably a little bit down on time. Phil still had time to make another 10k though.
The final was no let down, with 2 run outs, on table 6 which was good but not really a table you could get the big scores on. Phil was put into bat first and got 17,450. Again KT glided past it with 18,230.
So KT has now won 5 Grand Prixs (and 3 in a row) but I doubt he has had to work much harder to win this title, he came back from great performances from Paul Sainsbury, Chris Reeves and Phil Collins. So big well done to KT. But also well done to all the players we had 7 breaks over 20k spread over 5 players, as I say I don't remember playing in a tournament of a such a high standard.
Time for me to sign off now, but a big thanks to Dave Alder for his kind words at the end, and also Jean for the help she gave me on the day (and many other days this year) I will see some of you at next weeks AGM, but I hope you all have a merry Xmas and a happy new year and I will see many of you at the Opens in 2008 :D
Brian Daniels bought 8 new sets of balls for the day, and boy did it make a difference. So big thanks to him for that.
16 players were split into 4 groups of 4, winners to go through to semis.
Group A featured number 1 seed Nigel Senior, Steven Sheard, Jersey finalist Jim Millward and Richard Wooton. 1 win apiece after two matches and the players knew at this stage aggregates would come into play and at this point less than 6k seperated all 4 players. Richard drew first blood with a 20,210 break against Steven and Jim took a 12k score and 10k lead into leg 2 against Nigel Senior, but the 2k Nigel had got was to prove crucial. Steven responded with 21,130 and thought he was through but Nigel got a 19,920 break to beat Jim and edge out Steven on aggregate 49,850 to 45,770.
Group B had England number 1 Kevin Tunstall, Paul Sainsbury, Ray Sturgess and Tony Webster. KT and Paul setup a deciding match when they beat the other 2 players in the group. They had a great match but Paul slipped up on 15k (in 12 mins), KT came back with 6k!! and then did enough in leg 2 to go through unbeaten (with an average of 12,220). Ray Sturgess was third but still had an 8,107 average despite winning only 1 game - I did say the standard was high!
Group C was dominated by Chris Reeves. He won all three matches at an average of 11,048, with a highlight of a 21,370 break in his win over Mal Spier. The other 3 players still played very well all averaging over 5k and won a match each, and finished in the order of Mark Brewster (38,790), Mark Trafford (35,810) and Mal Spier (33,280)
Group D was tough with Gareth Lloyd, Phil Collins, Leon Beer and Alan Chaloner. Alan struggled to live with these three who were really on top form. Lloydy was in pole position after two wins from 2 and basically was 10k up (after a 37k score against poor Alan) on Phil Collin's aggregate with him left to play. Leon had an outside chance after a great fightback from 17k down to beat Phil Collins, but was still 20k down on Gareth with Alan left to play. Leon scored 19k against Alan, which was not enough to overtake Gareth but Phil ran out the first leg for 17,440 against Gareth now putting him now 7k up on Gareth. Unfortunately for Gareth a pegged 9k break essentially helped put Phil through at his expense. I hope you can follow that - it did have a lot of twists and turns!
There was no let up in the semis. Chris Reeves started against KT and ran the table out for just under 21k. Phil Collins went hell for leather against Nigel playing it out for 22k. KT was up to the task and seemed to glide past Chris's score and even missed on 21,600 but Chris couldn't make the 700 he needed as the bar just dropped. Nigel wasn't quite as up to the task breaking down on 10,500 probably a little bit down on time. Phil still had time to make another 10k though.
The final was no let down, with 2 run outs, on table 6 which was good but not really a table you could get the big scores on. Phil was put into bat first and got 17,450. Again KT glided past it with 18,230.
So KT has now won 5 Grand Prixs (and 3 in a row) but I doubt he has had to work much harder to win this title, he came back from great performances from Paul Sainsbury, Chris Reeves and Phil Collins. So big well done to KT. But also well done to all the players we had 7 breaks over 20k spread over 5 players, as I say I don't remember playing in a tournament of a such a high standard.
Time for me to sign off now, but a big thanks to Dave Alder for his kind words at the end, and also Jean for the help she gave me on the day (and many other days this year) I will see some of you at next weeks AGM, but I hope you all have a merry Xmas and a happy new year and I will see many of you at the Opens in 2008 :D
