World Pool Magazine 6th Edition

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WORLDPOOL OO CONTENTS From The President’s Desk

Page 2

Editors Message

Page 3

World Championships

Page 4-18

Australia Reporting

Page 19-21

Inter-League National Finals – EPA

Page 23-24

National Amateurs

Page 25

British Lions Australian Tour

Page 28

World Masters

Page 30-31

UK POOL TOUR Tour Two Report

Page 36

Challenge Three Report

Page 39

Tour Three Report

Page 41

Premier League update

Page 42-43

Challenge Four Report

Page 44

Tour Rankings

Page 46

Tour Four Report

Page 47

Challenge Rankings

Page 48

UK Pool Tour 2014 Diary of Events

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Page 49-51 Page 52

Administration Office 20 South View, Bamford, Rochdale, OL11 5HU Tel: 01706 642770 Email: gharwood@eightballpoolmarketing.freeserve.co.uk

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WORLDPOOL OO FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK The 21st World Championships were held at The Imperial Hotel in Blackpool England 23 June 2013 to 3rd July 2013.

We again saw record participation, Reunion Island as a country participating for the 1st time, and Morocco returning for the 2nd year.

Countries competing were 16 with the usual great support from the host nation England and UK countries Scotland, Wales Ireland and Northern Ireland, all competing in every event, this year also saw the largest ever touring party of 42 from Australia, they also competed in every event with several players enjoying the experience of the World Championships for the very first time.

The Championships received extensive hours of transmission time spread over several weeks thanks to Sky Sports Television..

Players as usual enjoyed a great carnival atmosphere of sportsmanship and friendliness by all participating, our thanks to The English Pool Association On route to the World Championships Australia visited Johannesburg South Africa for a Test Match Series for the Men, Ladies and Juniors, excellent preparation for the World Championships and Australia were very thankful for the wonderful hospitality received from Pool Billiards South Africa.

The World Championships were complimented by a 2nd major event The World Masters, this took place part way through the World Titles and had maximum quota participation thanks to the combined effort of the WEPF EPA in partnership that host this event.

October is the month that all Pool players aspiring to represent Australia at the world titles come together at the National Titles.

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After passing the first hurdle of being selected to represent their State or Territory, this year they converged to Kings Hotel in Perth, Western Australia for a historic Indigenous “Welcome to Country” to participate in the 30th National Eightball Titles in Australia.

From these titles a panel of selectors gather to name the Australian Teams that will travel to the UK in 2014 for the World Championships. Representing Australia at the World Titles is a big incentive to Australian players, and a major part of promoting the game.

This year the Australian Eight-ball Federation and its members are very grateful to have the British Lions Team visit and play a 5 test match series against the best talent in Australia. The British Lions won the series in a close hard fought battle 3-2.

It was a pleasure hosting this event once again and I thank the EEPF and UK associations for supporting this event, and in particular George Harwood who has organized the formation of the Lions squad and coordinated all their travel arrangements to Australia.

For the 22nd time, the AEBF look forward to sending a team to the UK and supporting the 2014 World Championships.

I would like to thank the WEPF executive and indeed all of the dedicated workers throughout the world who are working hard in their respective countries to further promote the sport and The World Eightball Pool Federation.

Joe Fanto President WEPF AEBF

WORLDPOOL OO

THREE IS MAGIC NUMBER FOR TOM EDITOR’S NOTES IT may not have been such a long time between drinks but between issues of World Pool then it has been a while.

So, there is much to chronicle within these 52 pages, including the 2013 WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championships and three UK and Challenge Tours.

Throughout these tournaments there has been a constant thread. So take a bow Tom Cousins. Indeed, ‘TC’ may well have written himself into eight ball pool record books with a treble that may never be matched or equalled.

In addition to his Blackpool bounty last July, Cousins became a UK Tour winner for the first time in his career. Norfolk’s finest also claimed success on the UK Challenge Tour.

Oh, and just for good measure Cousins claimed the National Singles title at Great Yarmouth earlier this month. Well done Tom, you should be proud of your efforts.

However, while Cousins gets my vote as 2013 player of the year, it should be noted that the prizes are being evenly spread which is exactly why the UK Tour was started in 2012.

Approaching the final Tour of the year, it’s worth noting there has been a different winner at every tournament, including a notable career breakthrough for Cheshire cue all-rounder, Darryl Fallows. The same singularity is seen on the Challenge Tour; each title being claimed by a different player.

The World Championships, already confirmed for 2014 at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool, also provided a fair spread of honours. Certainly Emma Cunningham was

no stranger to world success as she retained her ladies singles crown.

However, Northern Ireland’s ladies, including the irrepressible ‘Wookie’, captured the ladies team prize for the first time amid jubilant scenes. Another key prize leaving Lancashire for Ulster was that of junior champion.

Carl Martin might not have been favourite before he arrived but he quickly showed his intention and thoroughly deserved his final accolade. There were also new winners of the Under 21 individual, Seniors and Wheelchair titles again demonstrating the growing strength in depth of the sport.

At the time of writing another major pool event is happening on the other side of the world. The unbeaten British Lions are putting their 100 percent record on the line against the might of Australia. Blackpool wasn’t the happiest hunting ground for the ‘Green and Golds’ but they can expect to be more dangerous on their home tables in Perth.

Again though the latest Lions squad demonstrates the diversity of talent in the game at present. Only two of the squad that won the inaugural series, qualifier winner Gavin Lomax and Wayne Smith, were on the plane Down Under this time.

Steve Mills, manager of England’s winning World Championship team, is in charge of the Lions and here’s hoping they comeback with the spoils.

Enjoy the final UK Tour weekend of 2013.

See you all in 2014.

Trevor Baxter - Editor Email: trevor@redandwhitesport.co.uk

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

COUSINS CLINCHES FIRST EVER WORLD MEN'S SINGLES CROWN

‘TOMCAT’

CAN’T BE LICKED IN MEMORABLE FINAL TOM Cousins wrote his name onto the WEPF World 8-Ball Pool men’s singles roll of honour after one of the most gripping finals in the 21-year history of the tournament.

Hereford born, Norfolk based Cousins kept his nerve in pressure cooker conditions to edge out unlucky Craig Waddingham 1110 to scoop a £6,000 first prize at Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel. It was certainly a relieved Cousins, known to his mates as ‘Tomcat’, who finally clutched the winners’ trophy that almost slipped from his grasp.

Leading 5-2 and 8-4, the number two seed had a shot at the eight-ball to win 11-7 and succeed John Roe as champion. Instead, left hander Waddingham, seeded six and roared on by his noisy fan club, hit back to force a decider.

The 'Tomcat', by now, had almost used up all his nine lives. However, the 2012 World Championship quarter-finalist, still had the advantage of the break. And there was still further drama in front of the Sky TV cameras as Cousins, many people’s tip for the title before the tournament started, potted the 8-Ball from the break. But with no penalty under WEPF rules, Cousins made no mistake at the second time of asking much to his delight.

“There were a couple of mistakes but it was a good final,” said the cock-a-hoop

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new champion. But I wasn’t bothered about the standard; I was just over the moon to get the win.

“Craig got his confidence back when I missed that black for 11-7. Then I missed another chance. However, I had been playing well and I knew I could do it,” said the 24-year-old from Attleborough.

Unfortunately, Waddingham from Scunthorpe pocketed £2,500 for his near miss.

But he put on a brave face after coming up just short.

“Tom is a good potter and a good mate but horrible to play against,” he grimaced.

“I could tell he was under pressure and I thought his best chance was if he could clear up from the break. You just want one shot in the decider but sadly I didn’t get one. “But I’m working upwards at these Championships, beaten semi-finalist three years ago, beaten finalist now so hopefully it will be third time lucky next time.”

Cousins had certainly started as favourite even if judgement was only based on their previous meeting during the UK Tour at Hinckley earlier this year. However, he should have known the final wouldn’t be easy as that clash also went down to the wire with Cousins on the right side of an 8-7 score line. “Beating him here meant a lot more,” he smiled.

Cousins, who opened his campaign with an 8-3 win over Scotland’s former World Under 21 champion, Pat McCarron, defeated 2011 World Masters runner-up, Robert Wharne, 10-4 in the semi-finals.

Left hander Waddingham accounted for South African debutant, Charl Jonck. 10-5.

World Championships 2013

At that stage Cousins, 24, feared his pretournament words might come back to haunt him. In his programme biography, last year's quarter-finalist predicted: “If I was going to put money on it, I’d say Craig Waddingham is the man to beat. On his day he is awesome.”

Cousins, formerly a bar man in Great Hockham, recently moved back into East Anglia, after 'exile' in Hereford. And the dad of one was busy with his house move while practicing for the championships. So, his share of the £21,000 prize fund definitely came in handy to supplement ongoing DIY bills. If Cousins expected a close encounter in the final, he hadn’t expected such a stroll in the penultimate round against Staffordshire rival Wharne. With the match evenly balanced, the champion elect pulled away from 6-4 with four successive frames.

“There’s a lot more pressure here with the TV cameras and under the lights and perhaps I handled it better,” suggested Cousins. “I didn’t want to get that far and then lose.”Waddingham desperately wanted to avoid semi-final pain for a second time in three years. And there was no mistake as, watched by partner Erica and toddler son Kye, he ousted underdog Jonck, one of the tournament’s surprise packages.

Waddingham, who dropped only 17 frames en route to the final, feared it might be 18 when he snookered himself on the 8-Ball in what proved to be the last frame.

However, Jonck's earlier error in potting yellow and cue ball gave Waddingham a lifeline which he used to sink his last two reds and the black.

“I was relieved,” he admitted after starting the match by dropping the opening two frames. “I didn't want the match to go on

WORLDPOOL OO any further if possible.”

Philosophical Jonck, who represented his country at the 2004 IBSF World Snooker Championship, admitted: “The main difference was the break. I had seven breaks and seven came up dry.

“But Craig played very well and I have no complaints. It's my first world championship at pool and I have enjoyed the experience. Hopefully, I will be back next year.” However, Jonck can be proud of his efforts, starting his campaign way back in the first round with a 7-1 win over qualifier James Cahill. And his great run could easily have ended in the third round when pushed into a deciding 13th frame against Morocco’s Omar Mounchid.

Among Jonck’s other victims were qualifier Steve Thompson (in the quarters) and highly rated Jack Pople in the last 16. The same round also accounted for defending champion Roe from Peterborough.

Brushing aside Malta’s Johan Attard 8-3 and Ireland’s Terry Parker by the same score line in his opening two matches suggested a strong defence for Roe. Instead, he came a cropper against Scotland’s Marc Fleming who promptly went down 9-2 against Waddingham in the quarters.

Roe fared marginally better than third seed Lee Kendall. The 2012 World Championship runner-up found his Blackpool luck deserting him as Wharne clinched their last 32 match-up 8-7. Other seeds fared even worse as fourth ranked Tom Price lost 8-4 in the last 64 to Australia’s Gus Di Giorgio while eighth seed, Avtar Singh, crashed 82 against qualifier Jason Bates.

But no one could stop ‘Tom Cat‘ who produced a purr-fect final frame of the championship to become cream of the crop.

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

CANNY CUNNINGHAM COMPLETES HAT-TRICK OF WORLD LADIES TITLES Emma Cunningham regained her ladies singles title after a two-year wait but admitted: “It doesn't get any easier."

The Nor ther n Ireland inter national defeated England captain, Barbara Taylor, 8-4, to regain the trophy she won in 2005 and 2011. Top seed Cunningham never looked back after playing superbly to take a 5-0 lead. Taylor, runner-up to Lynette Horsburgh in 2008, fought back to claim four of the next six frames. However, the damage had already been done. The Newry born cue queen, a member of Northern Ireland’s winning team as well as a World Masters semi-finalist, pocketed £1,600 first prize for her efforts.

"At the moment it feels like the best of the three,” she said after completing her hattrick. "I had a really tough draw and it just got harder and harder.

“And ‘Babs’ is such an awesome player.

She is certainly the best player never to have won it,” said Cunningham of the England captain.

Cunningham’s latest success leaves her one win away from equalling Linda Leadbitter’s record of four achieved in the 1990’s.

However, she’s still eight short of Sue Thompson’s amazing haul of 11 titles.

Thompson hung up her cue after her 2012 victory over Sharon Wright.

“Sue and I were having a laugh the other day that if I ever get to 10 she is going to come out of retirement and play in the singles again,” said Cunningham, 12 month after her worst ever World Championship showing when beaten in the last 32.

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Ladies Individual World Champion EMMA CUNNINGHAM

“Seriously, Sue was a big help during the week,” said the new champion. "When I was behind in the semi-finals (against Kirsty Davies) Sue had a word and just told me 'you are better than this.'

A veteran of 11 world championships, but still only 26, Cunningham admitted: “There are so many new faces. They have got no fear` and just pot balls off the lampshade. I remember when it was like that.”

However, Cunningham left Blackpool as a double world champion having helped her

World Championships 2013

country to the team title over England 48 hours earlier.

“We’d been trying to win it for so long,” she admitted. “And we’re all like sisters so it was a fantastic achievement."

Taylor from Rainham kept a smile on her face despite the heartbreak of another world final defeat.

“She was slick so there wasn’t a lot I could do,” said Taylor, beaten by Lynette Horsburgh in the 2008 final. “I really feel like Emma won it rather than me lose it.

“I don’t think many of the men would have been able to keep up with her playing like that.

“But even at 5-0 and 7-2 I never gave up.

The last frame is always the hardest to win and if she could win five on the spin, so could I. "I don't feel I played many bad shots. But perhaps you should call me Jimmy White (six-time world snooker championship runner-up).

“I don’t think I am ever destined to win it,” sighed the 39-year-old Kent veteran, a World Masters finalist in 2010.

Cunningham and Taylor might have contested the final but it could so easily have been a show down between Kirsty Davies and local favourite Horsburgh such was the competitiveness of the semi-finals.

Cunningham came from 3-0, 5-3 and 6-5 down to stun World Masters runner-up, Davies, 7-6. And Taylor held her nerve to also prevail in a 13th frame decider and defeat five years earlier.

WORLDPOOL OO Fittingly, two marathon contests were watched by Thompson. “I am just relieved to get over the line,” said second seed Taylor whose previous victims included Kim O'Brien (6-4), Anne Louise Arkle (6-5) and South Africa’s Amy-Claire King (7-4).

“I missed a couple of chances at 6-3 and 6-4. So, when Lynette made it 6-all, I must admit I feared the worst. But I gave myself a good talking to and thankfully I managed to hold myself together in the last frame."

Liverpool born Taylor potted her way to another final by cutting the black into a middle pocket with Horsburgh left with three yellows on the table. Top seed Cunningham qualified for her latest final the hard way and started to believe her name was on the trophy. She edged out Collette Henriksen 7-6 in the quarters and again made it lucky 13 against Davies, bidding to reach her first singles final.

However, Davies from Cardiff can be pleased with her efforts. She defeated former England captain Jackie Baker, seeded three and briefly out of retirement, 6-3 in the last 16 and accounted for South African hope, Nuraan Jedaar, 7-2 in the last eight.

Last year’s beaten finalist Wright slipped up against experienced Sharon Dickson in the last 16 while 2013 European champion, Emma Wilkinson-England’s other main hope-lost at the same stage to wily world championship campaigner, Collette Henriksen.

Wilkinson did at least gain some compensation by securing the World Masters crown with a 6-5 win over the unlucky Davies.

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

JUNIOR DELIGHT

FOR NORTHERN IRELAND’S MARTIN Northern Ireland’s pool players enjoyed their most productive ever visit to the WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championships and teenager Carl Martin was at the vanguard of that success.

Martin became the first ever Ulster born winner of the junior title, beating favourite and defending champion, Joe O’Connor.

O’Connor and the English prospects had monopolised the title since Sean Conway lifted the trophy for the Republic of Ireland in 2007.

This time though Martin broke the stranglehold, adding the junior crown to Emma Cunningham’s ladies singles title and Northern Ireland’s ladies team triumph.

“I was the underdog but it has made me determined to go on and win other tournaments,” said Martin from Fintona in County Tyrone.

“I certainly want to defend my title as next year is my final year in the junior ranks. It would be great to go out on a high. I was shaking a bit in the last frame but it couldn't have gone much better.

“Joe broke, potted nothing and I cleared! I couldn't believe it at the end!"

O’Connor, who had previously beaten Martin in the European Championship semi-finals, appeared to have another major title in the bag. Only the black was needed for an 8-6 win. Instead, he missed a tough shot, Martin, who practices at Fintona’s Q-Sports Academy, seized his lifeline and then cleared up in the decider for a famous win.

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Junior Winner - Carl Martin

Previous winners include Gareth Potts, Darren Matthew (three times), Jordan Church (x2), Pat McCarron and Frank Costello (x2). Among Martin’s earlier wins was a 7-5 quarter-final success against AllIreland Junior champion, Jordan Doyle, and a 7-3 semi-final victory against Doyle’s compatriot, Keith Conlon. O’Connor from Leicester defeated Malta’s Ryan Pisani 7-4 in his semi-final.

"I played well to get to the final but I missed one chance at 7-6 up and never had another shot after that," said O'Connor, hoping now to become a full-time snooker professional.

"But I was still feeling positive afterwards, because I had won it before,” added the runner-up whose consolation was winning the World Masters Plate at Louis Heathcote’s expense. “If it had been my first time, losing would have been horrible.”

World Championships 2013

WORLDPOOL OO

FLACK HEAD OVER HEELS WITH DELIGHT AS ENGLAND RETAIN MEN’S TEAM TITLE BEN Flack was the hero in a dramatic finish to the men’s team final that saw England retain their title at the expense of Republic of Ireland.

With the scores deadlocked at 7-all, the Bristol star defeated Terry Parker to complete a thrilling 8-7 win. Flack's trademark 'roly-poly' celebration round the table duly followed' Victory also brought the hosts a sixth title in the last seven years, with Ireland's 2011 success interrupting the winning streak. It was certainly a fitting finale and a great way to start the last day of action at the WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championship.

The two countries had kicked off the tournament on June 23 with England taking out a 12-9 win. But this time they had to work even harder for their win. Rob Wharne, picked himself up from the disappointment of losing in the men's singles semi-finals, to beat former European champion Stephen Dempsey in the opening frame. Jack Pople made it 2-0 against 2013 individual quarter-finalist, Karl O'Donoghue, and Lee Kendall's side was off to a flyer.

Declan Hough's win over 2012 world individual king, John Roe, opened the Irish account. However, Gavin Lomax, Kendall and Karl Sutton stretched home advantage to 5-1. Surely, the title was in the bag?

David McQuillan thought otherwise and his victory over Flack gave the Irish a glimmer of hope. A rousing team talk and huddle followed during the interval outside the hotel and it was a different Irish side that returned to the table. McQuillan (over Darren Price), O'Donoghue (against Wharne), Dempsey (over Lomax) and Ronan Fay (against Roe) brought the match level at 5-all. With England reeling, it

needed a steady hand. And that was provided by Pople who beat Hough and skipper Kendall over Matt O'Hara. David Burns duly set-up a gripping decider with both players having chances. Flack certainly thought his moment had gone in the closing stages. Instead, Parker fluffed his line and Flack stepped in with his final red and black for the title.

England reached the final with an 8-1 win over South Africa while Ireland overcame India 8-3 in the second semi-final. The Indian squad, third after the round robin stage, knocked out Wales 11-4 in the playoffs while South Africa defeated Malta 118. A total of 12 nations competed in the event and competition was fierce throughout. England, Ireland and India all finished with 18 points after the round-robin stages, each winning nine of their 11 games.

Malta were fourth but only two points behind. Disappointingly, after making such a long journey, the Australia squad managed just three wins while France fared even worse collecting just four points.

Ironically, three of the four leading players in the averages came from countries who automatically failed to make the semi-finals or qualify for the play-offs.

South African Charl Jonck, an individual semi-finalist, underlined his great tournament by winning 25 of his 33 frames to jointly top the averages with Northern Ireland’s Tommy Morrow. Dempsey finished third with an average of 72.72 percent compared to the 75.75 percent of Jonck and Morrow. Morocco’s Ameur Abdelati Riad finished fourth with 23 frame victories from 33 played for an average of 69.69 percent.

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

2013 WORLD Championships

Aslam Abubaker Wheelchair Champion

England Senior Team Cha mpions 10

World Championships 2013

WORLDPOOL OO

l Hope Michae pion am U21 Ch

England U21 Team Champions 11

WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

‘NORDIES’ STUN CHAMPIONS TO SEAL FAMOUS TEAM WIN Stacey Hancock sank the winning 8-Ball amid jubilant scenes at the Imperial Hotel to give Northern Ireland ladies a landmark team triumph.

With two matches in play, the 'Nordies' led 12-11 as England's new look side staged a late revival through Katie Henrick and Beckie Watkins. For a brief moment, it appeared European singles champion Emma Wilkinson and Lyndsey Roberts might pull off an unlikely win. Instead, left hander Hancock secured the vital 13th frame, roared on by the vociferous backing of team mates and supporters.

Happy Hancock punched the air in delight after securing a 13-11 win while Wilkinson and Jo Coe left the match unfinished. It was a stunning upset after the holders raced to an18-7 win in the round robin phase of the tournament more than a week earlier. Indeed, Denise Warrington's girls lost two matches in the early stages while England, after Jackie Baker’s retirement from international competition, skippered for the first time by World singles finalist, Barbara Taylor, slipped up just once against 2010 winners, Wales.

Northern Ireland led 3-2 after the first session; a result reversed by the end of the second session. Wins for Taylor, Henrick and Wilkinson ensured an 8-7 advantage for the hosts after three sessions. Only Taylor though stopped the rot in sessions four as Michelle Rooney, Jo Kent, Jo Coe and ladies individual champion Cunningham took the Ulster girls, 11-9 clear. That became 12-9 when Michelle Rooney defeated Taylor before a final half hour

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of drama.

Northern Ireland winners were: Rooney (4), Cunningham (3), Coe (2), Hancock (2), Kent (2). In the semi-finals, the champions elect defeated Wales 13-10 and England swamped South Africa 13-4.A total of seven teams competed in this year’s championship with best of 25 matches played for the first time in the tournament history.

Favourites England won all but one of their six round robin fixtures, claiming a total of 99 frames. Wales also gained five victories, including a nail-biting 13-12 success over the eventual runners-up. Their only defeatthis time with the 13-12 score line reversed-came in their penultimate fixture against South Africa who can be pleased with their final fourth place finish. All countries won at least one match but there was disappointment for Ireland who finished with the wooden spoon.

Kirsty Davies, pushing Emma Cunningham close as ladies player of the tournament, and Welsh team mate, Collette Henriksen, topped the averages with 23 frame wins from 30 outings. Third spot was shared between former world individual champion, Lynette Horsburgh, and another snooker convert, Katie Henrick. The duo each won 21 frames while England skipper, Barbara Taylor, finished in fifth place having dropped only 10 of her 30 frames.

Mentions should also go to Hannah Jones of Wales who accumulated 13 wins from 18 frames and English rival, Beckie Watkins with a 70.58 average courtesy of 12 wins out of 17 frames played.

World Championships 2013

WORLDPOOL OO

2013 Ladies Team Champions - Northern Ireland

2013 Mens Team Champions - England

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

“GETS BETTER WITH AGE-LIKE A FINE VINE” There had been plenty of hope but no eventual glory in the World Seniors for Keith Brewer. However, the eventual winner was certainly a blast from the past; a familiar face in the early days of the World Championships when a Seniors event was only a pipe dream for the more mature player!

So, step forward and take a bow Stacey Vine, a former quarter-finalist in the main World draw.The Northamptonshire veteran defeated Australia’s Don Colbert 8-2 in the final after a far more edgy 7-6 victory against Colbert’s compatriot, Steve Gray.

Colbert had been expected to offer tougher resistance, especially after a 7-4 win in the last four against reigning European Seniors champion, Alistair Bailie.

Indeed, it was Yorkshireman Bailie who ensured Brewer’s bid to defend the title he cruised to in 2012 was a futile one. A 7-5 win guaranteed Bailie’s passage to the quarter-finals where he defeated Nigel Olding 7-4.

Vine, a former England international for eight years and a five time World team champion, removed double European Over 50’s king, Bill Rigby, in the last eight to open his pathway to the final.

Stacey Vine - Senior Champion Seniors: Last 16: Stacey Vine bt Shane Robinson 7-4, Bill Rigby bt Marcel Micallef 7-6, Steve Gray bt Malcolm Brooks 7-3, Tony Mifsud bt Mike McHale 7-5, Don Colbert bt Robbie Grace 7-4, Peter Lucas bt Rod Gurney 7-4, Nigel Olding bt Alfred Attard 7-4, Alistair Bailie bt Keith Brewer 7-5.

Quarter-finals: Vine bt Rigby 7-5, Gray bt Mifsud 72, Colbert bt Lucas 7-3, Bailie bt Olding 7-4.

Semi-finals: Vine bt Gray 7-6, Colbert bt Bailie 7-4.

Final: Vine bt Colbert 8-2.

With a quartet of Vine, Brewer, Bailie and Shane Robinson, England A were always favourite to claim the team prize. And they duly did with a 5-2 final win over South Africa represented by former snooker professional, Robbie Grace, Graham Bake and Pieter Rademayer.

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Seniors Team: Semi-finals: England A bt Scotland A 5-0, South Africa bt Australia 5-3.

Final: England A bt South Africa 5-2.

For full results visit www.wepf.org

World Championships 2013

ASLAM ABUBAKER INDIAS’ FIRST EVER WORLD 8-BALL POOL CHAMPION The 2013 edition of the World Championships broke different areas of new ground, including a first ever appearance by players representing Reunion, an island in the Indian Ocean with a population of just 800,000.

They didn’t have representatives in the wheelchair event but India did and Leicester based Aslam Abubaker became their first ever World 8-Ball pool champion.

He did so with a 5-1 final victory over Australian Stephen Pettinato- a rare final without Home Nation participation.

A former wheelchair world snooker c h a m p i o n , 4 8 - y e a r- o l d A b u b a k e r, enthused:”Winning the title is amazing. “I played well throughout the tournament and hardly missed a ball. Potting the final black was a great feeling.” Defending champion, Danny Luton, began his defence with a 3-2 defeat to Gary Swift as Phil Hendrickson topped the Group One table with five wins from six games. Luton still made the quarters but went down 4-2 against Welsh cueman, Craig Welsh, third in Group Two behind Abubaker and Theresa Sheridan. Both lost just one game; Abubaker (3-1 against Freek Rossouw of South Africa) and Sheridan (3-0 to Abubaker).

Queenslander Pettinato ended Sheridan’s interest in the quarters and Hendrickson’s in the last four. But Abubaker wasn’t to be denied, dropping only four frames in the knockout stages.

Wheelchair: Quarter-finals: Phil Hendrickson bt Freek Rossouw 4-1, Aslam Abubaker bt Gary Swift 4-1, Craig Welsh bt Danny Luton 4-2, Stephen Pettinato bt Theresa Sheridan 4-1.

Semi-finals: Pettinato bt Hendrickson 5-2, Abubaker bt Welsh 5-1.

WORLDPOOL OO

“LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY” There was a new name engraved also on the World Under 21 trophy-Michael Hope.

The Region 7 star turned on the style in the final against England team mate, Giuseppe D’Imperio, to take the match 8-2 and succeed Scotland’s Ryan Davie as champion.

Hope dropped just six frames in his last three games to deny D’Imperio a chance to clinch some silverware. The Surrey county cueman also finished joint fourth in the team averages with John Bowkett, both players winning 14 of their 18 frames.

Top honours went to Ireland’s Adam McMakin and Gus di Giorgio of Australia, whose averages of 79.16 percent came from dropping only five of their 24 frames.

Australia topped the table after the round robin stages with seven wins out of eight.

However, it was Hope and Co who prevailed in the final with a 5-0 victory.

In fact, the semi-final against their own B team proved far harder; the match decided by a final ninth frame.

Under 21’s: Last 16: Kane Wilson Skinner bt Nigel Clarke 7-2, Scott Anderson bt Josh Walker 7-5, Tom Church bt Salan C-Shamoon (?) 7-0, Michael Hope bt Danny Davies 7-4, Adam McMakin bt Andrew Maguire 7-2, Zak Shepherd bt James Bolton 7-5, Ryan Shaw bt Alan Kirkham 7-0, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Callum Singleton 7-4.

Quarter-finals: Skinner bt Anderson 7-3, Hope bt Church 7-1, Shepherd bt McMakin 7-6, D’Imperio bt Shaw 7-1.

Semi-finals: Hope bt Skinner 7-3, D’Imperio bt Shepherd 7-4.

Final: Hope bt D’Imperio 8-2 Under 21’s Team: Semi-finals: England bt Malta 13-9, Ireland bt Australia 13-11.

Final: England bt Ireland 13-9.

Final: Abubaker bt Pettinato 5-1.

15

WORLDPOOL OO

Steve Davis 1981,1983,1984,1987 1988,1989

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2001, 2004, 2008

Shaun Murphy 2005

Stephen Hendry 1990,1992,1993,1994 1995,1996,1999

Peter Ebdon 2002

John Higgins 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011 Cliff Thorburn 1980 Alex Higgins 1982 Dennis Taylor 1985 Joe Johnson 1986 John Parrott 1991 Ken Doherty 1997 Mark Williams 2000, 2003 Graeme Dott, 2006

Neil Robertson 2010

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WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

TEAM ENGLAND ARE JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

England - Junior Team Champions

Northern Ireland’s Carl Martin may have the individual title in safe keeping until next summer but the junior team trophy stayed at home as England Juniors lived upto their pre tournament billing as favourites.

The defending champions duly delivered a n o t h e r t ro p h y w i t h a 1 3 - 9 f i n a l success against their Republic of Ireland counterparts.

And that was a more comfortable margin of victory than they achieved in the round robin encounters when only three frames separated them.

However, England were good value for their latest junior triumph. They sailed through the first section with a 100 percent success rate from six games. A 13-9 semifinal win over Malta followed before the crowning glory against the Irish.

The final pairing represented disappointment for Australia. Their five wins to qualify for the last four included a 16-9 win against Ireland. But when it came to knockout pool the Irish, as so often at the World Championship, showed their mettle to

upset the odds.

More maddening for the Aussies was their conversion rate in the matches. Four of the top six youngsters in the averages came from Down Under with Jordan Doyle best placed for the Irish in eighth position.

Aaron Davies accumulated 24 frame success from 30 played to top the averages with 80 percent. Vijay Randall finished runner-up for the Green and Gold with 23 out of 30, just ahead of 2012 world junior champion, Joe O’Connor.

However, the Aussies filled the next three places through: Adam Bleumink (20-28), Ben Foster (20-30) and Jayme White (2030). Seven countries sent junior teams and every nation registered at least one victory.

Juniors Team Results: Semi-finals: England bt Malta 13-9, Ireland bt Australia 13-11.

Final: England bt Ireland 13-9

17

WORLDPOOL OO

World Championships 2013

2013 World Championship Results....

Men’s singles Last 32: John Roe bt Johan Attard 8-3, Marc Fleming bt Mark McGauley 8-4, Barry Kitchener jnr bt Kyle Edwards 8-7, Craig Waddingham bt Phil Naylor 8-4, Jason Bates bt Thomas Morrow 8-4, Steve Thompson bt Kevin Mercieca 8-4, Charl Jonck bt Andrew Hughes 8-4, Jack Pople bt Gus DiGiorgio 8-6, Rob Wharne bt Lee Kendall 8-7, Michael Hope bt Tom Church 8-6, Matt Brierley bt Ben Flack 8-5, Karl O’Donoghue bt Callum Singleton 8-6, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Keith Jones 8-7, Karl Sutton bt Ray Caruana 85, Gavin Lomax bt Mario Brincat 8-3, Tom Cousins bt Stephen Dempsey 8-4.

Last 16: Fleming bt Roe 8-5, Waddingham bt Kitchener 8-1, Thompson bt Bates 8-5, Jonck bt Pople 8-4, Wharne bt Hope 8-4, O’Donoghue bt Brierley 8-2, D’Imperio bt Sutton 8-7, Cousins bt Lomax 8-5.

Quarter-finals: Waddingham bt Fleming 9-2, Jonck bt Thompson 9-8, Wharne bt O’Donoghue 9-5, Cousins bt D’Imperio 9-7.

Semi-finals: Waddingham bt Jonck 10-5, Cousins bt Wharne 10-4.

Ladies Singles Last 32: Emma Cunningham bt Sharon Lunn 6-3, Michelle Brown bt Susan Collins 6-4, Emma Wilkinson bt Sharron Brown 6-1, Collette Henriksen bt Emma O’Brien 6-1, Lyndsey Roberts bt Catherine Buckley 6-3, Nuraan Jedaar bt Sue Coulthard 6-2, Kirsty Davies bt Hannah Jones 6-0, Jackie Baker bt Jill Bevan 61, Lynette Horsburgh bt Beckie Watkins 6-3, Jo Kent bt Lyndsey McKellar 6-2, Sharon Dickson bt Jodie Holt 6-0, Sharon Wright bt Debbie Europa 6-2, Amy-Claire King bt Mickey McPherson 6-0, Stacey Hancock bt Sandra Bryan 6-3, Anne Louise Arkle bt Nicole Fielding 6-5, Barbara Taylor bt Kim O’Brien 6-4.

Last 16: Cunningham bt Brown 6-2, Henriksen bt Wilkinson 6-3, Jedaar bt Roberts 6-4, Davies bt Baker 6-3, Horsburgh bt Kent 6-0, Dickson bt Wright 6-3, King bt Hancock 6-1, Taylor bt Arkle 6-5.

Quarter-finals: Cunningham bt Henriksen 7-6, Davies bt Jedaar 7-2, Horsburgh bt Dickson 7-2, Taylor bt King 7-4.

Semi-finals: Cunningham bt Davies 7-6, Taylor bt Horsburgh 7-6.

Final: Cousins bt Waddingham 11-10.

Final: Cunningham bt Taylor 8-4.

Junior: Last 16: Keith Conlon bt Stephen Kaine 6-5, Aaron Davies bt Haydn Jones 6-0, Jordan Doyle bt Dylan Cassar 6-4, Carl Martin bt Aaron Cooper 6-3, Ryan Pisani bt Jamie Gaffney 6-1, Craig Lauder bt Kevin McWeeney 6-3, Fraser Allan bt Phil Marriott 6-5, Joe O’Connor bt Ben Fortey 6-3.

Quarter-finals: Conlon bt Davies 7-4, Martin bt Doyle 7-5, Pisani bt Lauder 7-4, O’Connor bt Allan 7-2..

Men’s Team Play-offs: India bt Wales 11-4, South Africa bt Malta 11-8.

Semi-finals: England bt South Africa 8-1, Ireland bt India 8-3.

Final: England bt Ireland 8-7.

Semi-finals: Martin bt Conlon 7-3, O’Connor bt Pisani 7-4.

Ladies Team Semi-finals: England bt South Africa 13-3, Northern Ireland bt Wales 13-10.

Final: Martin bt O’Connor 8-7.

Final: Northern Ireland bt England 13-11.

Inter-League Knock-Out Cup

18

OO HOW THE WORLDWORLDPOOL BEGAN It started with a phone call in October 1989 from a guy with an unfamiliar accent.

“Hi, my name is Lance Sheen, I am from Australia,” said the voice by way of explanation. “Are you George Harwood and would you and your boys like to play our National pool team?.

And so began a great adventure with one of the the nicest guys I have ever met, my pool ‘brother’ Lance. Letters followed from Lance's wife, Lauri, and dialogue continued until - in 1991 correspondence arrived from a certain Terry Green.

It was an invitation to join Australia and New Zealand in an international pool tournament hosted in Perth in November 1992.

There were plenty of others who made the dream become a reality but Lance and Terry were the pioneers.

Lance Sheen team. If Lance was the front man then Terry was the engine, ensuring everyone was looked after.

At this stage in its evolution, the English Pool Association (EPA), formed in 1980, sought new challenges and the idea of flying 11,000 miles to compete against the Aussies and New Zealand was mind blowing.

They made it all happen and were a great As always, finance was a problem; that is until we met the management of Bass Taverns. The one-time brewing giants thought the idea of hosting qualifiers in their bars and pubs for players to play pool on the other side of the world, was a great promotion.

A National event was held to find four amateurs players from Bass outlets and this quartet joined with others from the English National team to complete

19

WORLDPOOL OO the historic squad.

Of course there were problems. It wouldn’t be pool if there weren't problems. The first obstacle was the potentially insurmountable issue of the rules. All three countries played different versions.

Step forward Mr Green who suggested we play EPA rules in Australia and in the following year they would visit us in England and we would play Aussie rules.

A t t h a t t i m e t h e i d e a o f a Wo r l d Championships was only a discussion point and the thought of television had not even been considered.

TOUCH DOWN, PERTH A squad of 20 plus players and officials arrived in Western Australia in November 1992. We were treated to a fantastic reception, and the hospitality was out of this world. I still remember the civic reception in the ‘council offices.’

We enjoyed a great event with England coming out on top. Playing EPA rules certainly helped.The participation of the New Zealand squad was also integral to the success of this first ever triangular tournament.

Rod Gurney was the Aussie team manager at the time and he made sure players from all countries enjoyed the experience, I was thrilled to see Rod again playing as an Australian Senior at the 2013 World Championships in Blackpool.

During that trip, the three nations held a meeting to form the World Eight Ball Pool Federation. Lance was elected President, a brilliant choice, as he immediately pushed

20

Terry Green the newly formed body to promote the idea of a World Championship played in England during 1993.

Australia were given the task of drawing up a new set of world rules which would be played at the first World Championships and then modified at future annual meetings of the newly formed WEPF.

WORLDS IN MOTION AND BSkyB TELEVISION We then had an amazing piece of fortune, successfully approaching Imperial Tobacco - through their world renowned Embassy brand - for sponsorship of the first World Eightball Pool Championships. If that wasn't good enough we discovered a newly created television station was interested in our sport, enter B Sky B. The idea of playing Australia in England using their rules was now a different proposition. We had agreed in Perth to do that and we kept to our word though a lot of discussion took place.

Seven countries competed at the 1993 World Championships, hosted at Man-

WORLDPOOL OO chester's 4 star Midland Hotel: Australia, England, Belgium, France, Hungary, New Zealand and Ireland. We even had snooker, darts and boxing supremo, Barry Hearn, watching the proceedings before he moved successfully into 9 ball.

Interestingly, at the first tournament, we welcomed snooker legend Eddie Charlton, a three-time world snooker finalist, who participated in the singles event. He gave a decent account of himself and was only beaten 8-7 by eventual champion Kevin Wright in the second round.

The sponsors loved the production and signed up for a further three years. This deal eventually turned out to be 12 until the British government prevented tobacco sponsored sports events. Sky Sports have supported our sport for the past 21 years.

England won the first ever men’s team title, beating Australia in the final, Wright and Linda Moffatt won the singles, Jack Halligan was top of the averages and Natalie Froling was an instant star.

Three years later in 1996, Mick Delahunty led his team, including Jack

Halligan, Aleck Evreniadis and a squad of top players to World Championship glory defeating England in the final. It was great to catch-up with Mick again when he visited the Worlds with ‘better half’ Renata, who finished runner-up in the televised 2011 World ladies final.

Australia have had other success at the World Championships. Maverick cue all rounder, Quinten Hann won the men’s individual in 1999 and remains the only player from outside the UK and Ireland to have picked up the men’s title.

The ladies’ team took the title in 2007 and the seniors were champions in 2011. Lance Sheen, Terry Green and many others were pioneers of the WEPF but for 21 years after, Australian players a nd officials have travelled to England every year t o c o m p e t e a t t h e Wo r l d Championships.

They have ensured the dream of 1992 stayed a reality despite great expense to individuals and the AEBF. All of the nations thank them for that.

Other countries have certainly contributed to the continued progress of the sport but it is Australia who really put the WORLD into the WEPF.

Natalie Froling

WORLDPOOL OO

22

Inter-League Knock-Out Cup

WORLDPOOL OO

YOU’VE BEEN FRAMED! Frames, Reigate gate-crashed the InterLeague Knockout Cup party usually staged at this time of year by two of the country’s top teams: Trent Trophies and Sun Valley.

For the past seven years the Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire squads have left Vauxhall Holiday Park with the trophy.

This time though the Kent cuemen came away with the cup, beating Ipswich 11-9 in the final. Always one of the most important events on the pool calendar, the Inter-League finals attracted more than 1,300 players to Great Yarmouth. The 44 English county associations have- for over 25 years- organised their own local Inter League competition and it is grown beyond recognition. Initial entry for the National finals is over 170 teams with the top 96 leagues going forward to the National finals to form 32 groups of three teams.

The winners of each group go into the last 32 to play a knockout competition and compete for a prize fund of over £ 14,000.

However, there is good news for those teams who didn’t make it through this year. For 2014 and beyond, the venue has agreed to increase their number of Supreme tables with Pro-Cup balls to 56 tables which will extend the entry to possibly 128 leagues in the future. Watch this space for future developments.

And with Trent and Sun Valley’s stranglehold finally broken, more teams will sense they might now come out as top dogs.

Indeed, a number of leagues experienced breaking new ground by at least making the last 16 of the tournament. Sun Valley actually suggested they might walk off with the spoils again as they progressed to the last four.

However, after a 10-5 win over TT Players, the Sun sank courtesy of a 10-5 defeat to a strong Ipswich side. The Suffolk squad accounted for Chesterfield by 10-8 in the quarters and Romney March by the same score in the last 16.

In the other semi, Frames went through to the final courtesy of a final frame victory over Players, Rotherham. Frames had previously defeated Crewe LHPL 10-3 in the quarters and Braintree 10-6 in the last 16 stage.

Such was the strength of the initial entry, only six of the 32 group winners won both of their matches.

Results: Last 32: Frames Reigate bt S Cuemakers 10-8, Braintree bt Stowmarket 10-3, Crewe LHPL A bt Rugby Rileys Z 10-5, Afford B bt Normans Elite 11-9, Players Rotherham bt Peterborough 10-7, Barking & District bt Battersea A 10-5, Nuneaton A by Witney Snooker Z 11-9, Wigan A bt Lancaster 10-6, Afford bt COBHPL A 10-7, IT Players bt Andover 10-8, Sun Valley bt Coventry A 10-3, Leeds bt Moor Pool 10-6, Romney Marsh A bt Penrith 10-8, Ipswich A bt NOPL 108, Chesterfield bt Y DP Leisure 10-6, ADSPL bt C Charity 10-6.

Last 16: Frames Reigate bt Braintree 10-6, Crewe LHPL A bt Afford B 10-5, Players Rotherham bt B & District A 10-5, Wigan A bt Nuneaton A 10-5, TT Players bt Afford 10-6, Sun Valley bt Leeds 10-8, Ipswich A bt Romney Marsh A 10-8, Chesterfield bt ADSPL 10-3.

Quarter-finals: Frames Reigate bt Crewe LHPL A 10-3, Players Rotherham bt Wigan A 10-8, Sun Valley bt TT Players 10-5, Ipswich A bt Chesterfield 10-8.

Semi-finals: Frames Reigate bt Players Rotherham 11-10, Ipswich A bt Sun Valley 10-7.

Final: Frames Reigate bt Ipswich A 11-9.

23

WORLDPOOL OO

Inter-League Knock-Out Cup

Inter-League Knock-Out Cup Winners - Reigate

Inter-League Knock-Out Runners Up - Ipswich

24

National Amateur Singles

WORLDPOOL OO

NATIONAL TREASURE

Tom Cousins silverware spree continued unabated when he won the National Amateur Championship at Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth.

And spectators couldn’t have hoped to watch a better finale to the competition that attracted nearly 400 players chasing a share of the £5,200 prize fund.

Cousins, the WEPF World 8-Ball champion, lined up against Michael Hope who clinched the World Under 21 crown at Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel. So could Hope spring eternal for the younger final?

Cousins had an emphatic answer-winning 8-2. He also added a cheque of £1,400 to his world prize of £6,000. Nice work if you can get it, or good enough!

Hope's consolation was £700 but with his growing reputation further enhanced and seemingly a National champion of the future.The National always attracts pool’s elite and 2013 was no exception. And the fancied stars immediately settled into the action with only England team member, Dan Eaton-Jones, failing to clear the first hurdle.

There were more big name casualties in the second stage, notably Neil Toms, but fellow England international and British Lion, Gavin Lomax, made no mistake as he swept aside Northern Ireland hope, Jamie Kitchen, 6-1. With such a large entry list, it took time to run through the rounds.

Redoubtable duo, Ian Kettel, a former World Masters champion, and Neil Davey didn't make it beyond the last 64.

Into the last 32 and some players, with serious title ambitions, found out it wasn’t going to be their year. Joe Prince, Rob

Wharne, Jack Pople, Jon Sanders and Karl Sutton all perished as Cousins marched comfortably onwards.

Lancastrian Ian Davenport, described by one organiser as an “old stager” put his experience to good effect and potted his way into the quarter-finals.

The top names in the last eight managed to avoid each other with one notable exception. And this particular clash of the titans paired 2012 world champion, John R o e , a n d c u r re n t h o l d e r, C o u s i n s .

Unsurprisingly, it turned into the match of the tournament to date. However, it was Cousins who raised his game to new levels to brush aside his Peterborough rival 7-3.

Davenport continued to prosper and edged out Lee Washbrook in a tight finish to their best of 13 encounter. England Under 21 team mates, Hope and John Bowkett, also reached the last four with respective 7–4 and 7–2 wins over Josh Kane and Neil Randle.

Davenport’s luck finally ran out in the semis, on the wrong end of 7-5 score line against Hope. In the other section of the draw Cousins stepped up another gear and ended Bowkett's run. By now, Cousins was in cruise control and he dispatched Hope in no nonsense fashion to add this latest trophy to his cabinet.

Results: Quarter-finals: Davenport bt Washbrook 7-6, Hope bt Kane 74, Cousins bt Roe 7-3, Bowkett bt Randle 7-2.

Semi-finals: Hope bt Davenport 7-5, Cousins bt Bowkett 7-2.

Final: Cousins bt Hope 8-2.

25

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LIONS RELISHING

WORLDPOOL OO

return down under

The British Lions have made a habit of travelling to Australia in recent years and returning with the spoils of victory. Indeed, before the Lions’ rugby union stars left their large paw prints on Australia’s sporting fields earlier this year, it was previously a battle of the baize as the Home Nations' took on the Aussies for 8-Ball bragging rights.

And now the potting pride of Lions is heading back Down Under to give the Aussies another chance of settling a few old scores. But it’s also opportunity to renew pool links between the two Hemispheres, especially after this summer's successful WEPF World 8-Ball Championships in Blackpool.

Every year, the ‘Green and Golds’ make their way to the North West of England for the game’s biggest event. But trips the opposite way have been few and far between.

But pool pioneer George Harwood, who has been at the forefront of pushing back the boundaries of the global game, is delighted the Lions are going back to Oz for the first time since 2011.

“Every year an Australian squad travels to the UK, often at a large cost to the players themselves, to support the World Championships,” says Harwood. “It’s a fantastic effort by some fantastic people and we in the UK appreciate their efforts.

“Of course, there have been English teams making the opposite journey and we tried to make a success of a World Cup competition.

“But such was the triumph of the Lions’ last trip, it was imperative we organised a return trip as soon as possible. I am delighted to repay the Aussies for their support over two decades by helping facilitate this Lions tour. And of course I hope we comeback as winners.”

The Lions has been a superb addition to the game of pool in recent years with trips to Malta and South Africa as well as their 2011 Australia adventure. So, it was a source of UK pride when the 2013 edition of the Lions left our shores bound for Perth to start a five Test series.

Only Gavin Lomax and Wayne Smith remain from the Lions team that won the inaugural series albeit after a nail biting play-off. It is certainly fitting the Lions are heading for Perth because it was here in Western Australia 21 years ago when the World Eight Ball Pool Federation was founded with Harwood at the fore. The Lions tour coincides with the Australian National Finals, starting on October 14, and this year celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The current Lions squad is one of the strongest sent overseas and is managed by Steve Mills who guided England to team success at the 2013 World Champs.

Captain for the trip is Scotland's Matt Brannan, part of the successful Lions squad that won in South Africa last year, Ben Flack, Darrell Bareham and Giuseppe D’Imperio join the squad as current England Internationals whilst Temujin Dixon is recognised as one of the rising band of new stars who are coming into the sport.

Smith, who skippered the Lions on the 2011 Tour, was the seventh and final squad member to book his place after winning his place as the Welsh qualifier. a heady combination of experience and the enthusiasm of youth suggests the confidence of this latest pride of pool playing Lions is not misplaced.

Steve Mills Manager

Matt Brannan Captain (Scotland)

Ben Flack (England)

Darrell Bareham Gavin Lomax (England) (England)

Giuseppe D’Imperio (England)

Temujin Dixon (England)

Wayne Smith (Wales)

WORLDPOOL OO PERTH GLORY FOR BRITISH LIONS Judging by their performances at the WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championships Australia’s chances of mauling the all conquering British Lions were virtually non existent.

Instead, the Aussies, on their home tables in Perth, were unrecognisable from the squad that won only three of its 11 matches at Blackpool.

However, there was only so much room for improvement Steve Mills’ Lions would allow. And after an epic five Test series, the Brits abroad were celebrating with good reason.

Welshman Wayne Smith, skipper on the Lions’ inaugural visit Down Under in 2011, sank the winning eight ball of the final Test to complete a 3-2 series victory.

And it’s something to do with leading the pool pack that brings out the best in Lions captains. This time it was Matt Brannan’s turn to lead from the front, dropping only three of the 15 frames he was involved in.

Contrast his record though with that of the undisputed UK Tour rankings leader, Ben Flack, who managed just two wins from his 15 frames.

However, the series was all about team and not individuals and the Lions move on still with a 100 percent record from all their outings throughout Europe, Africa and Australia.

Despite the lingering effects of jet lag, the Lions drew first blood, taking the opening test 11-10, coming from 8-6 down to lead 11-8 before Smith potted the final black.

The Aussies had their revenge next day by reversing the score line.

Trailing 3-0, they levelled at 7-all at halfway distance and were indebted to late frame wins from Steve Woods and Dane Beeton to see them home. Test three was the most one sided of the series to date thanks to a blistering run in the penultimate leg.

Already 4-3 in front, the Lions won six of the next seven frames with only Flack missing out. Lomax and Brannan added a couple more at the top of leg three to make the advantage unassailable and ensure the Aussie’s mini revival was nothing more major.

So, could the Lions finish off with a match to spare? Answer? No. At 7-7, they still had hope but wins for Justin Sajich, 2012 World Masters runner-up John ‘Rusty’ Wheeler, Kurt Dunham, Beeton and Woods earned the hosts a 12-9 win.

And so to the final Test. It was a brave man to predict who might take the honours.

The Lions scented victory as they led 8-6 after the first two sets. Dependable Lomax and Brannan pushed the score to 10-6 only for the Aussies to hit back.

McCartney, Sajich and Woods reduced their arrears to 10-9 only for Smith to pot a magnificent 8-Ball to take the Lions over the winning line.

This was a truly great Test Series by both teams and a brilliant advert for the sport from the world class players of the World Eightball Pool Federation.

29

WORLDPOOL TheOOBritish

Lions Team

Winners of the Australian Test Series

POOL

ON THE

BOX

SKY SPORTS TRANSMISSION TIMES FOR 2013 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MATCH

DATE

TIME

Ladies Individual Final

Tuesday 22nd October

6:30pm

Mens Team 1st Semi-Final

Tuesday 29th October

7:00pm

Mens Team 2nd Semi-Final

Tuesday 5th November

5:00pm

Mens Team Final

Tuesday 12th November

7:00pm

Mens Individual 1st Semi-Final

Tuesday 19th November

8:00pm

Mens Individual 2nd Semi-Final

Tuesday 26th November

6:30pm

ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR Televised Finals - Wednesday 2nd July 2014

Mens Individual Final

Tuesday 3rd December

6:00pm

WORLDPOOL OO

WILKINSON SECURES WORLD & EURO DOUBLE Emma Wilkinson followed up her European Championship victory by becoming only the fifth winner of the Ladies World Masters.

The Sunderland star certainly took full advantage of the absences of champion Sue Thompson and 2012 runner-up, Lynette Horsburgh.

But Wilkinson definitely didn’t have it easy as she potted her way to the second most prestigious individual title in ladies 8-Ball.

Opposing her in the final was Welsh wonder Kirsty Davies, certainly one of the contenders for female player of the World Championships.

As expected, it was a tight game, with no quarter asked or given. In the end Wilkinson claimed an 11th and deciding In the semi-finals, the new champion accounted for former England captain Jackie Baker, enjoying one final hurrah before calling time on her international career. Wilkinson won 6-3 while Davies denied Emma Cunningham a world double, beating her Northern Ireland rival 6-4.

The last 16 threw up a dress rehearsal for the world singles final between Cunningham and Baker’s successor as England skipper, Barbara Taylor. And just as she did on that occasion, Cunningham won the day, courtesy of a 5-2 victory.

Wilkinson’s victory was satisfaction after losing 6-1 to Cunningham in the 2011 final. Taylor has twice been a World Masters finalist, losing to Cunningham in 2009 and Michelle Brown 12 months later.

Emma Wilkinson Thompson, champion in 2006, 2008 and 2012, quit the sport last season through ill health.

Results: Last 16: Jackie Baker bt Jo Kent 5-3, Leanne Pearce bt Sharron Brown 5-1, Emma Wilkinson bt Collette Henriksen 5-2, Alexia Julius bt Michaela Lester 5-3, Jo Coe bt Sharon Wright 5-4, Emma Cunningham bt Barbara Taylor 5-2, Anne-Louise Arkle bt Amy-Claire King 5-4, Kirsty Davies bt Nicole Fielding 5-2.

Quarter-finals: Baker bt Pearce 5-4, Wilkinson bt Julius 5-0, Cunningham bt Coe 5-4, Davies bt Arkle 5-0.

Semi-finals: Wilkinson bt Baker 6-3, Davies bt Cunningham 6-4.

Final: Wilkinson bt Davies 6-5.

31

WORLDPOOL OO

The World Masters

ANTON THE MASTER ANTON Cuschieri was the toast of Malta after a stunning victory over Lee Kendall to become World Masters champion.

The 33-year-old government official came from 8-5 down to beat the England skipper 10-8 to scoop a £5,000 first prize.

Cuschieri was mobbed by delighted Maltese team mates after sinking the winning 8-Ball. Crestfallen Kendall had to make do with a £2,000 consolation prize. But you suspect it wasn't much consolation for the long serving Stoke on Trent star.

In contrast and within seconds of his winning pot, the champion was on the phone home, breaking news of his famous win over the 2012 World Championship runner-up.

"At the beginning I didn't think the luck was on my side," grinned 'big Tony."But I still believed I could do it because I'd beaten some good players just to get to the final.

"It's certainly the best and biggest win of my career," added Cuschieri who has been playing pool for two decades.

"Hopefully, my win will be a big boost to all the young players back home and give them belief they can also win titles like this."

Cuschieri reached the final by edging out Liam Farrell 9-8 in the semi-finals while Kendall boosted his tag as favourite by swamping Giuseppe D'Imperio 9-2. The new champion also claimed the scalps of title holder Jack Pople (8-2), Kris Hampson (8-2), Maltese team mate, Christ Tabone (7-5), Partab Singh (7-3), Lucas Venter (72), Craig Waddingham (7-6) and Andrew Moore (7-1).

Former winner, Ian Kettel, lost 8-6 in the last 16 to Farrell but among his earlier victims was 2009 Masters champion, Ben Flack. Rob Wharne, runner-up to Neil Ray-

32

bone in 2011, also fell at the last 64 stage, beaten by former Southport snooker professional, Will Jerram. Jerram also took out South Africa’s individual world championship semi-finalist, Charl Jonck.

The ever popular Masters attracted more than 400 entries representing 19 countries, all seeking a share of the £18,000 prize fund. Prize money was paid from the last 64 stage with the eventual winner’s cheque second only in amount to that of world champion, Tom Cousins.

Top juniors Joe O'Connor and Louis Heathcote met in the final of the World Plate.

Heathcote knocked out world semi-finalist, Tom Cousins, in the quarter-finals, but went down 7-5 to his Leicestershire team mate in the final.

World Masters Last 32: Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Shaun Chipperfield 7-6, Jordan Johnson bt Alan McLeod 73, Neil Toms bt Will Jerram 7-6, Andrew Hughes bt Jason Bates 7-5, Jaouad Tabit bt Keith Brewer 7-1, Lee Kendall bt Steve Thompson 7-3, John Rimmer bt Jamie Moray 7-3, Ameur Abdelati Riad bt Wayne Smith 7-3, Kris Hampson bt Shaun Payne 7-5, Anton Cuschieri bt Christ Tabone 7-5, George Greaves bt Keegan Pillay 75, Jack Pople bt Michael Hope 7-6, Liam Stanley bt Alan Smith 7-0, Mark Singleton bt Clayton Attard 7-5, Liam Farrell bt Mostafa Boukri 7-5, Ian Kettel bt Andy Cross 7-1.

Last 16: D’Imperio bt Johnson 8-4, Toms bt Hughes 8-5, Kendall bt Tabit 8-6, Riad bt Rimmer 8-3, Cuschieri bt Hampson 8-2, Pople bt Greaves 8-3, Stanley bt Singleton 8-6, Farrell bt Kettel 8-6.

Quarter-finals: D’Imperio bt Toms 8-5, Kendall bt Riad 8-4, Cuschieri bt Pople 8-2, Farrell bt Stanley 8-7.

Semi-finals: Kendall bt D’Imperio 9-2, Cuschieri bt Farrell 9-8.

Final: Cuschieri bt Kendall 10-8.

2013 World Masters Champion

ANTON CUSCHIERI

TOUR & CHALLENGE REPORTS

34

TOUR TWO REPORT

TAKING FLACK-COUSINS WINS MAIDEN TOUR CROWN World champion Tom Cousins started the ‘best year of my career’ with a double final appearance at UK Tour Two in Hinckley.

board. Also a semi-finalist at Tour Four, Cousins is full of confidence ahead of the last Tour of 2013.

And having lost to John Whelan in the Challenge final, he wasn’t about to suffer the same fate when he cued up against Ben Flack in the last match of the weekend. But Bristol’s finest made life tough for his Norfolk rival who has recently been crowned National Amateur champion at the expense of World Under 21 champion, Michael Hope.

“It’s been my best year by far and I am full of confidence,” he agreed. “I’m practicing at least once a week whereas before I might only have practiced about 10 times in the last six or seven months.

The best of 15 frames contest against Flack went down to the fire before Cousins prevailed.

“I lost to Jack Whelan, who is a good player, in the Challenge final so I didn’t want to go home as a runner-up twice.

“I was 7-5 up against Ben and missed a good chance to win 8-5,” recalled the 2013 king of the 8-Ball world.

“Then at 7-6, I missed another pot for the match. Luckily in the last I managed to break and dish.

“At that stage I hadn’t won a Tour before so there was more pressure to get over the line.

Normally, if I was 7-5 in front there would be no way I would miss.”

Cousins also had his work cut out in the semifinals though no-one then knew his meeting with Craig Waddingham was going to be a dress rehearsal for their world final meeting at Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel. Certainly, Blackpool runner-up Waddingham wouldn’t have wanted to see into the future.

The Scunthorpe star should have won 8-6 but failed to sink the black. Cousins snatched the penultimate frame and then clinched the decider to add his name to the UK honours 36

“But life is still hectic. Having just finished doing one house up, we are moving to a bigger place just down the road so I will probably be starting all over again!

Jack Pople, champion at Tour One, didn’t get past Myles Deleuse in the first round while John Roe, then still world champion, lost 7-5 in the last 128 against Darryl Fallows who confirmed his potential later in the year by winning Tour Four. (see page 46) Keith Brewer, a winner of the final Tour in 2012, also perished in his opening game, beaten 7-3 by Josh Corkett.

Tour Two Results: Last 32: Jim Ryan bt John Bowkett 7-6, Stuart Green bt Cory Rees 7-5, Adam Foyster bt Chris Gill 7-6, Ben Flack bt Lee Grout 7-6, James Ross bt Jamie Moray 75, Harjeet Singh bt Mark White 7-4, Lee Kendall bt Liam Farrell 7-3, Aidan Owens bt Craig Bailey 7-1, Tom Cousins bt Daryl Lovegrove 7-1, Shaun Brearley bt Gareth Manning 7-5, Gavin Lomax bt Lee Howitt 7-5, Robert Wharne bt Ryan Fleming 7-4, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Kris Hampson 7-4, Craig Waddingham bt Jason Bates 7-3, Frank Costello bt Avtar Singh 70, Liam Stanley bt Jess De La Haye 7-3.

Last 16: Green bt Ryan 7-2, Flack bt Foyster 7-1, Singh bt Ross 7-3, Kendall bt Owens 7-6, Cousins bt Brearley 7-0, Lomax bt Wharne 7-6, Waddingham bt D’Imperio 7-3, Stanley bt Costello 7-4.

Quarter-finals: Flack bt Green 7-6, Kendall bt Singh 7-5, Cousins bt Lomax 7-2, Waddingham bt Stanley 7-2.

Semi-finals: Flack bt Kendall 8-7, Cousins bt Waddingham 8-7.

Final: Cousins bt Flack 8-7.

FESTIVAL OF POOL

FLAVOUR OF THE FESTIVAL

Daryl Fallows, Ben Swiinnerton & Gareth Manning

The Festival of Pool has become a firm annual favourite on the 8-Ball Pool calendar and the 2013 edition was no different.

Held during UK Tour Two at Hinckley Island hotel and with total prize money of £23,000, the main event was the Puma Team Classic with £ 8,000, the winners receiving £1,800.

Entry was over 200 players from the UK Tour plus others allowed direct entry into the Team Classic and Puma Challenge event which for the rest of the year’s competitions is for tour players only.

One of the features of the Team Classic is the open draw which gives every player an even chance of being in a team with one of the world’s top Eightball, international level stars. This always produces some very strong three-man sides but it is not always the top players who come out on top.

Some formidable three-man sides took part but only three men could finish as champions. And the winning trio were: Ben Swinnerton, Darryl Fallows and Gareth Manning, with a team of very promising youngsters James Charlwood, Louis Heathcote and Danny Davies taking

them to a deciding frame in the final.

Festival Results Last 16: Robert Harmston/Neil Armstrong/ Rob Fowler bt Tony Bayes/Scott Price/Dave Roblin 5-4, Lee Kendall/Michael Hope/Josh Corkett bt Shane Balding/Ryan Mears/Nick Phillips 5-4, Ashley Hardcastle/Glyn Crook/Keith Brewer bt Shaun Payne/Jess de la Haye/Temujin Dixon 5-2, James Charlwood/Louis Heathcote/Danny Davies bt Mark Bell/Carl Clack/Neil McDonnell 5-0, Jordan Johnson/Tom Cousins /Chris Samuel bt Chris Back/Steve Bell/Adam Foyster 5-2, Neil Kelley/Sam Jeffrey/Ryan Shaw bt Adam Griffiths/Willie Anderson/Marc Fleming 5-1, Ben Swinnerton/ Darryl Fallows/Gareth Manning bt John Bowkett/Joe Prince/Satnam Singh 5-2, Terry Hunt/Gavin Lomax/Brett Wild bt Matt Couch/Matthew Sellers/Craig Waddingham 5-2.

Quarter-finals: Kendall/Hope/Corkett bt Harmston/Armstrong/Fowler 5-2, Charlwood/Hope/Corkett bt Hardcastle/Crook/ Brewer 5-3, Kelley/Jeffrey/Shaw bt Johnson/ Cousins/Samuel 5-1, Swinnerton/Fallows/ Manning bt Hunt/Lomax/Wild 5-1.

Semi-finals: Charlwood/Heathcote/Davies bt Kendall/Hope/Corkett 5-4, Swinnerton/ Fallows/Manning bt Kelley/Jeffrey/Shaw 5-3.

Final: Swinnerton/Fallows/Manning bt Charlwood/Heathcote/Davies 5-4.

37

John Roe - Challenge Three Winner

CHALLENGE THREE REPORT

JOHN ROE TAKES CHALLENGE THREE John Roe is looking for a strong finish to his UK Tour campaign at Northampton this weekend.

And if he needs a reminder of what it takes to win a Tour or Challenge event then he only has to cast his mind back to earlier in the season.

Disappointed by his 7-4, last 32 UK Tour exit to JJ Faul, the 2012 WEPF World 8-Ball Ball champion bounced back to claim the third Challenge event of 2013 with victory against 2013 World singles runner-up, Craig Waddingham.

“I was pleased in the end because it’s hard to get motivated when you’ve lost in the Tour,” explained the Peterborough cue man.

“Fortunately, I started to play well again. I was up against a good player in Craig in the final and I just managed to scrape through.

“The Challenge event can be just as hard as the main Tour sometimes; it’s just over a shorter distance. That can actually make it harder as you don’t often get that many chances.”

Roe certainly re-discovered his touch dropping only eight frames from the last 32 onwards, including a 5-1 semi-final victory over Adam Toms.

Recent success over Neil Raybone in a Herts Tour final as set-up Roe for a promising end of year conclusion.

“That was a bonus,” he agreed. “It was a nice bit of practice before this weekend.

“This year hasn’t gone as well as I would have hoped. But it’s my first year back on the Tour so I wasn’t expecting massive things.

“It takes a while to get used to the set-up again. Hopefully, I am building to having a stronger year next year.

“And if I can get a bit of run this weekend perhaps I can get on a roll. When you are confident things naturally go for you; you don’t feel like you can do anything wrong because you are so positive. It’s been like that for Tom Cousins this season.

“He’s so good anyway and with extra confidence it makes him so hard to beat.”

Challenge Three Results Last 32: Shane Thompson bt Dave Hughes 5-4, Adam Toms bt Lee Grout 5-4, Michael Beeston bt Michael Hope 5-2, Neil Toms bt Mark Bell 5-4, Ryan Fleming bt Neil Wren 5-1, Liam Farrell bt Danny Davies 5-3, John Roe bt Kris Hampson 52, Partab Singh bt Greg Gamlin 5-2, Anthony Doble bt Neil Armstrong 5-2, Phil Naylor bt Jason Toovey 5-4, Glyn Crook bt Craig Bailey 50, Craig Waddingham bt Robert Wharne 5-4, Stuart Green bt Neil McDonnell 5-1, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Tom Church 5-2, Scott Carpenter bt Marc Haste 5-1, Matt Brierley bt Jack Pople 5-3..

Last 16: Toms bt Thompson 5-2, Beeston bt Toms 5-3, Farrell bt Fleming 5-0, Roe bt Singh 5-0, Doble bt Naylor 5-2, Waddingham bt Crook 5-4, D’Imperio bt Green 5-3, Brierley bt Carpenter 5-3.

Quarter-finals: Toms bt Beeston 5-4, Roe bt Farrell 5-2, Waddingham bt Doble 5-4, D’Imperio bt Brierley 5-4.

Semi-finals: Roe bt Toms 5-1, Waddingham bt D’Imperio 5-2.

Final: Roe bt Waddingham 6-3.

39

Ben Flack - Tour Three Winner

TOUR 3 REPORT

FLACK GETS IT RIGHT AT SECOND TIME OF ASKING Ben Flack made up for his disappointment at the previous event by securing a first ever UK Tour title at Daventry.

The Bristol star, beaten by Tom Cousins in the final of Tour Two, came good with an 8-4 win over Mark White.

Flack’s back-to-back finals have helped him claim top spot in the rankings, 10 points clear of Giuseppe D’Imperio and another four in front of Cousins. White’s performance saw him rise to sixth in the list and hot on the tails of Jack Pople and Rob Wharne.

D’Imperio has yet to join the list of UK Tour winners but he wasn’t far away on this occasion. Both best of 15 frame semifinals went the distance and saw White edge out D’Imperio and Flack find a way to overcome Russell Burgess, by the same 8-7 score line.

Welsh international Burgess, the newly crowned National Seniors singles champion, showed he can still mix it with the youngsters, knocking out twice World junior champion, Frank Costello, in the last eight. The Somerset based ‘Tin Man’ had previously accounted for World finalist, Craig Waddingham, in the last 16.

In other quarter-finals, D’Imperio proved too strong for Kris Hampson, experienced White toppled Jake-Dylan Newlove while Flack defeated Bristol rival and World Championship seed, Partab Singh, 7-5.

Flack certainly merited his Tour title. Other wins included a 7-5 success against fellow British Lion Wayne Smith in the last 32 and a 7-2, last 16 triumph over former

snooker professional, Matt Couch.

Not many players have got the better of Tom Cousins in 2013. But that’s a feat Geordie Paul Riley achieved in the last 64.

His 7-5 win ended Cousins’ hopes of successive Tour wins though Riley from Blyth, a successful England trialist in 2011, then slumped to a 7-2 last 32 defeat against Waddingham.

England skipper Lee Kendall, still the only player to win two Tours since the start of the 2012 season, has yet to hit the same heights. And he’d rather forget Tour three after a 7-4 first round exit against Sam Jeffrey.

However, the fine margins between success and failure always exist. Flack almost perished at the same stage but scraped a 7-6 win and never looked back.

Tour Three Results: Last 32: Ian McMullan bt Christopher Back 7-2, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Shane Balding 7-4, JJ Faul bt John Roe 7-4, Kris Hampson bt Neil Wren 7-6, Shane Thompson bt Geoff Campbell 7-6, Jake-Dylan Newlove bt Matthew Sellers 7-5, Mark White bt Ryan Mears 7-5, Cory Rees bt Ollie O’Boyle 7-5, Russell Burgess bt Joe Prince 7-5, Craig Waddingham bt Paul Riley 7-2, Marc Fleming bt Thomas Price 7-6, Frank Costello bt Scott Carpenter 7-3, Rob Wharne bt Andy Barber 7-3, Partab Singh bt Lee Howitt 7-2, Matt Couch bt Liam Stanley 7-2, Ben Flack bt Wayne Smith 7-5.

Last 16: D’Imperio bt McMullan 7-1, Hampson bt Faul 7-4, Newlove bt Thompson 7-4, White bt Rees 7-2, Burgess bt Waddingham 7-6, Costello bt Fleming 7-4, Singh bt Wharne 7-4, Flack bt Couch 7-2.

Quarter-finals: D’Imperio bt Hampson 7-3, White bt Newlove 7-2, Burgess bt Costello 7-5, Flack bt Singh 7-5.

Semi-finals: White bt D’Imperio 8-7, Flack bt Burgess 8-7.

Final: Flack bt White 8-4.

41

PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE RACE TO GO DOWN TO WIRE

Premier League 2013

John Bowkett is the man to catch as the Premier League title race enters the final straight.

Certainly, the destination of the £3,000 first prize from a total prize fund of £13,700, remains unclear.

The only indisputable conclusion to be reached before the final round of matches is the 2013 champion will come from the current four Premier League leaders as the quartet are well clear of the rest of the field.

And it is ironic that these four: Bowkett, Lee Kendall, Jason Bates and Chris Gill will compete against each other in the final session of the year.

Current leader John Bowkett plays Gill while England skipper and second placed Kendall cues up against third placed Bates.

With such a handsome prize pot, all of the players involved will receive cash rewards, ranging from £400 at the base of the league to the top prize of £ 3,000. And the good news is that the overall figure is set to rise again for the 2014 campaign. So, why would anyone want to miss out?

Bowkett may be in pole position but he has played one match more than the other three contenders. So, if Kendall wins his remaining four sessions he could still overtake the leader. SO, there are a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ before the league is finalised.

There are no easy matches in the Premier league but with Russell Burgess, Bates and Gill to play in his final three sessions, current table topper Bowkett has it in his own hands to decide much of the final placing in this year’s competition.

And while the top four can’t be caught, the rest of the league still has a lot to play for.

(Final Positions)

P W D

L FD Pts

1 John Bowkett 2 Lee Kendall 3 Jason Bates 3 Chris Gill 5 Russell Burgess 6 Cory Rees 7 Jamie Moray 8 Ian Duffy 9 Chris Back 10 Andy O'Hara 10 Nigel Meal 10 Andy Cross 13 Paul Riley 14 Rich Mallard 14 Shaun Payne 16 Steve Thompson

12 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 12 8 11 12 9 11

1 1 2 2 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 4 7 9 5 8

Total 16 16 15 12 12 9 9 8

1 0 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 1

44 45 23 29 7 3 -7 -11 -4 -19 -24 10 -9 -41 -20 -26

21 20 17 17 13 12 11 10 9 8 8 8 7 6 6 5

There’s £1,000 up for grabs for the player finishing fifth and there are eight players still in with a realistic chance of claiming that position.

Next year’s Premier League line-up is selected by virtue of points gained on this year’s main UK Tour. So, Tour 5 could see plenty of twists and turns with more than 30 players in with a serious chance to finish in the top 14 and gain an automatic place into next year’s Premier league.

In this year’s 8ball clearance table, Kendall and Andy Cross are on 16 frames though Cross has played three matches less than the twice former World Championship finalists.

Gill, a UK Tour winner last season, is only one frame behind the top two so still a lot to play for. Gill is also joint top of consecutive clearances with Nigel Meal.

Total Consecutive..

8ball Clearances..

2013 Total 8ball Clearances Name Lee Kendall Andy Cross Chris Gill John Bowkett Cory Rees Steve Thompson Nigel Meal Andy O'Hara

10 10 8 8 6 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 2 2

Name Chris Back Ian Duffy Jamie Moray Russell Burgess Jason Bates Paul Riley Shaun Payne Rich Mallard 42

Total 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4

Name Nigel Meal Chris Gill Andy Cross Russell Burgess

Total 4 4 3 3

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES Session 1

Session 6

Matches for 16/02/2013

Matches for 30/03/2013

Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Andy Cross Andy O'Hara Paul Riley Rich Mallard

8 7 8 5 3 3 1

v v v v v v v v

6 7 2 8 8 8 8

Chris Back Nigel Meal Shaun Payne John Bowkett Cory Rees Russell Burgess Chris Gill Ian Duffy

Chris Gill Paul Riley Cory Rees Russell Burgess Ian Duffy Shaun Payne Andy O’Hara John Bowkett

8 8 2 4 1 4 8 8

v v v v v v v v

6 5 8 8 8 8 3 5

Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Jason Bates Chris Back Nigel Meal Rich Mallard Andy Cross

Session 2

Session 7

Matches for 17/02/2013

Matches for 25/05/2013

Shaun Payne Ian Duffy Chris Back Nigel Meal Chris Gill John Bowkett Cory Rees Russell Burgess

8 v 5 Steve Thompson 4 v 8 Jamie Moray 6 v 8 Lee Kendall v Jason Bates 7 v 7 Andy O'Hara 8 v 3 Paul Riley 5 v 8 Rich Mallard 2 v 8 Andy Cross

Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Jason Bates Steve Thompson Shaun Payne Rich Mallard Chris Back Nigel Meal

8 8 4 3 0 4 7 6

v v v v v v v v

1 4 8 8 8 8 7 8

Andy O’Hara Russell Burgess Chris Gill Paul Riley John Bowkett Andy Cross Cory Rees Ian Duffy

Session 3

Session 8

Matches for 17/02/2013

Matches for 26/05/2013

Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Jason Bates Steve Thompson Chris Back Rich Mallard Andy Cross Andy O’Hara

1 v 8 8 v 1 v 4 v 8 4 v 8 6 v 8 6 v 8 7 v 7

Cory Rees Nigel Meal Shaun Payne Ian Duffy John Bowkett Russell Burgess Chris Gill Paul Riley

Chris Gill Paul Riley Andy O’Hara Andy Cross John Bowkett Russell Burgess Cory Rees Ian Duffy

8 6 2 8 8 8 8 8

v v v v v v v v

3 8 8 1 0 5 6 5

Lee Kendall Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Rich Mallard Chris Back Nigel Meal Shaun Payne

Session 4

Session 9

Matches for 30/03/2013

Matches for 26/05/2013

Shaun Payne Ian Duffy Cory Rees Russell Burgess Chris Gill Paul Riley John Bowkett Nigel Meal

1 6 8 8 6 5 8 8

v v v v v v v v

8 8 1 2 8 8 4 5

Lee Kendall Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Rich Mallard Andy Cross Andy O’Hara Chris Back

Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Nigel Meal Shaun Payne Ian Duffy Chris Back

8 v v 8 v 8 v 1 v 8 v 7 v 8 v

6 Andy O’Hara Andy Cross 2 Rich Mallard 6 Paul Riley 8 Russell Burgess 3 Cory Rees 7 John Bowkett 4 Chris Gill

Session 11 Matches for 18/08/2013 Chris Back Lee Kendall Jason Bates Steve Thompson Cory Rees Nigel Meal Shaun Payne Ian Duffy

3 v v 8 v 4 v 2 v 8 v v 4 v

8 Andy O’Hara Andy Cross 3 Rich Mallard 8 Jamie Moray 8 John Bowkett 5 Paul Riley Chris Gill 8 Russell Burgess

Session 12 Matches for 18/08/2013 Rich Mallard Jamie Moray John Bowkett Andy Cross Andy O’Hara Paul Riley Chris Gill Russell Burgess

0 v 8 Lee Kendall 8 v 6 Jason Bates 8 v 3 Steve Thompson v Chris Back 4 v 8 Nigel Meal v Shaun Payne 8 v 3 Ian Duffy 2 v 8 Cory Rees

Session 13 Matches for 26/10/2013 Jason Bates Chris Back Nigel Meal Lee Kendall Ian Duffy Cory Rees Russell Burgess Shaun Payne

v v v v v v v v

Steve Thompson Rich Mallard Andy Cross Jamie Moray Paul Riley Chris Gill John Bowkett Andy O’Hara

Session 14 Matches for 27/10/2013 Jamie Moray Rich Mallard Steve Thompson John Bowkett Paul Riley Chris Gill Andy Cross Andy O'Hara

v v v v v v v v

Chris Back Nigel Meal Lee Kendall Jason Bates Cory Rees Russell Burgess Shaun Payne Ian Duffy

Session 5

Session 10

Session 15

Matches for 30/03/2013

Matches for 17/08/2013

Matches for 27/10/2013

Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray Lee Kendall Andy Cross Chris Back Nigel Meal Rich Mallard

8 7 4 8 6 8 4 3

v v v v v v v v

6 7 8 3 8 2 8 8

Cory Rees Russell Burgess Chris Gill Ian Duffy Andy O’Hara Shaun Payne John Bowkett Paul Riley

Rich Mallard John Bowkett Andy O’Hara Andy Cross Russell Burgess Cory Rees Paul Riley Chris Gill

8 v 4 Steve Thompson 8 v 5 Jamie Moray 5 v 8 Lee Kendall v Jason Bates v Shaun Payne 7 v 7 Ian Duffy 6 v 8 Chris Back 8 v 0 Nigel Meal 43

Shaun Payne Lee Kendall Chris Back Nigel Meal Chris Gill Ian Duffy Cory Rees Russell Burgess

v v v v v v v v

Rich Mallard Jason Bates Steve Thompson Jamie Moray John Bowkett Andy Cross Andy O’'Hara Paul Riley

CHALLENGE FOUR REPORT

FIRST COUSINS-TERRIFIC TOM POCKETS ANOTHER TITLE Tom Cousins kept the trophies coming in 2013 with a first ever victory on the UK Challenge Tour.

ber of England’s World Junior Championship winning squad, enjoyed his best Challenge run of the year. A 5-2 quarterfinal win against Gaz Royds put him into the semis where Flack stopped his run.

The Norfolk based World 8-Ball Pool champion defeated Ben Flack 6-3 in the final to become the fourth different Challenge winner of the year. Indeed, going into the final event of the year only Simon Ward has won more than one Challenge title since the event was introduced at the start of 2012.

Frank Costello, world junior champion in 2010 and 2011, also made it to the last four only to lose 5-2 against Cousins.

Going into the fifth and final Challenge Tour, D’Imperio heads the rankings with 32 points followed by Cousins on 28 and Flack on 24.

However, Cousins and British Lion Flack are certainly seeing plenty of each other at the business end of tournaments. The pair has already met in the semi-finals of the main Tour when Flack registered an 87 victory before Darryl Fallows denied him back-to-back Tour triumphs. They also met in the second UK Tour final of 2013, Cousins winning on this occasion 8-7.

Challenge Tour Roll of Honour

2013 Challenge One Champion: Shane Balding Runner-up: Giuseppe D’Imperio

World runner-up Craig Waddingham was among the early casualties in UK Challenge Four, losing 5-3 in the last 32 against Luke Bowry. Giuseppe D’Imperio, a UK Tour Four semi-finalist and who currently tops the Challenge Tour rankings, also went out at the same stage against Josh Riddaway.

Challenge Two Champion: Jack Whelan Runner-up: Tom Cousins Challenge Three Champion: John Roe Runner-up: Craig Waddingham

Cheshire over 40 Fallows certainly enjoyed himself at Hinckley and came within a couple of wins of a Tour and Challenge double. He reached the Challenge quarter-finals before eventual champion Church stopped his run courtesy of a 5-4 score line.Teenage Josh Riddaway, a mem-

Challenge Four Champion: Tom Cousins Runner-up: Ben Flack

44

Tom Cousins - Challenge Four Winner

UK POOL TOUR RANKINGS 2013 Pos Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Merit Rank

Ben Flack 0 Giuseppe D'imperio 0 Tom Cousins 0 Jack Pople 0 Robert Wharne 0 Mark White 5 Gavin Lomax 4 Craig Waddingham 0 Lee Kendall 0 Darryl Fallows 0 Harjeet Singh 0 Kris Hampson 3 Frank Costello 3 Ollie O'boyle 0 John Roe 5 Russell Burgess 4 Jason Bates 3 Lee Grout 6 Stuart Green 4 Jake-Dylan Newlove 4 Jamie Moray 3 Paul Riley 3 Michael Hope 3 Jim Ryan 2 Karl Sutton 1 Cory Rees 0 Liam Stanley 0 Scott Carpener 0 Adam Foyster 0 Aidan Owens 5 Thomas Price 5 Partab Singh 5

44 34 30 26 26 20 20 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14 14 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 10 10 10

Pos Name

Merit Rank

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

4 4 3 0 0 0 10 9 8 7 6 6 6 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 3 3 3

Neil Toms Dylan Leary Keith Brewer Matt Brierley Shaun Brearley Ryan Fleming Anthony Doble Marc Fleming Tom Church Richard Gifford John Bowkett Ben Clark Neil Wren Liam Farrell Andrew Herriot Eddie Barker James Ross Lee Howitt Ben Swinnerton Pat Ward Neil Armstrong Chris Gill James Blant Matt Couch Glyn Crook Jules Goodyear Geoff Campbell Joe Prince Shane Thompson Adam Griffiths Ian Mcmullan Mike Quinn

10 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

TOUR FOUR REPORT

FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FALLOWS! Darryl Fallows had a gut feeling he was destined for good things at the penultimate UK Tour Four.

“Giuseppe had beaten me 6-5 at Yarmouth and also on the Challenge Tour so I thought ‘I need to beat him this time.’

And the Rudheath based cueman was grinning like a Cheshire cat when his gut instinct proved spot on.

“In the final, I didn’t think I had played that well but found myself 5-3 up. I just thought if I can get to 7-6 and get one off the break I would be okay.

Dad of one Fallows, 42, a regular in the Northwich and District Pool League, defeated Ben Flack 8-7 to claim the title and a £3,000 cheque.

“I was buzzing when I got home,” agreed the computer process supervisor, “But I remember saying to the wife before I went to the Tour ‘I have a good feeling I was going to do well.

“Something just clicked whereas at Tour Three I didn’t feel up for it and played atrociously.

After that Tour I began to wonder if I could cut it on the Tour.

“After beating Ben, I realised I could cut it.

“I don’t think there is much ability wise between the players at the top and the bottom of the Tour. It’s all about consistency.

“Guys like me can play two or three good games and then have a real rubbish one. Players at the top can string more good games together.

“However, I guess it’s 20-30 per cent about talent and the rest is actually believing you can do it and how badly you want it.

“When I got back and showed the cheque to the wife she just said:”I guess you are going to play next year as well.”

Fallows, who came into the game after a serious grounding in amateur snooker, reached the final with an 8-3 semi-final win over Giuseppe while Flack edged out Tom Cousins 8-7 to avenge his Tour Two final defeat.

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“Instead, Ben had his 8-Ball to win 8-6. Even after missing that it was his break in the decider. Fortunately for me, he didn’t get anything and while it was hardly textbook, I managed to clear up.

“The last black was a thin snick into a blind pocket and when it dropped in all I could hear was Jim Ryan shouting: ‘Get in.’

“It was fantastic and hopefully I can make it back-to-back wins this weekend. I’m certainly coming down confident I can do well. But watch this space I’ll probably get beat early in again!

Tour Four Results: Last 32: Andrew Herriot bt Mike Quinn 7-1, Darryl Fallows bt Vijay Singh Hans 7-6, Jamie Moray bt Jim Ryan 7-4, Jason Bates bt Ryan Fleming 7-3, Dylan Leary bt Ollie O’Boyle 7-4, Giuseppe D’Imperio bt Mark White 7-3, Adam Griffiths bt Anthony Doble 7-4, Jack Pople bt Thomas Price 7-1, Michael Hope bt Darran Cooper 73, Harjeet Singh bt Martin Power 7-6, Adam Foyster bt Neil Armstrong 7-1, Ben Flack bt Neil Toms 7-4, Tom Cousins bt Glyn Crook 7-2, Eddie Barker bt Pat Ward 7-6, Robert Wharne bt Jack Mann 7-5, Paul Riley bt Kris Hampson 7-4.

Last 16: Fallows bt Herriot 7-3, Bates bt Moray 7-5, D’Imperio bt Leary 7-6, Pople bt Griffiths 7-4, Singh bt Hope 7-5, Flack bt Foyster 7-4, Cousins bt Barker 7-4, Riley bt Wharne 7-5.

Quarter-finals: Fallows bt Bates 7-5, D’Imperio bt Pople 7-6, Flack bt Singh 7-3, Cousins bt Riley 7-4.

Semi-finals: Fallows bt D’Imperio 8-4, Flack bt Cousins 8-7.

Final: Fallows bt Flack 8-7.

CHALLENGE RANKINGS 2013 Pos

Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Giuseppe D'imperio Tom Cousins Ben Flack Craig Waddingham Matt Brierley John Roe Shane Thompson Martin Power Darryl Fallows Mark White Scott Anderson Keith Brewer Adam Toms Shane Balding Josh Riddaway Gavin Lomax Jack Pople Tom Church Stuart Green Matt Couch Glyn Crook Neil Toms Scott Carpenter Marc Fleming Michael Howe Jake-Dylan Newlove Robert Wharne Luke Bowry Steve Bridgwood Anthony Doble David Roblin Jason Toovey

Rank

32 28 24 22 20 20 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 16 16 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 10

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Pos

Name

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Neil Wren Eddie Barker Mark Bell Frank Costello Myles Deleuse Lee Grout Michael Hope Sam Jeffrey hil Naylor Gaz Royds Lee Shepherd Kris Hampson Jack Mann Michael Beeston Liam Farrell Ryan Fleming Greg Gamlin Lee Howitt Jock Irvine Dylan Leary Joe Prince Partab Singh Pat Ward Cameron Dunlop Neil Armstrong Steve Bell Ben Clark Danny Davies James Ellis Richard Gifford Jordan Johnson Tommy Jones

Rank

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

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12 Major Amateur* 8-Ball Pool Tournaments

£116,000 PRIZE FUND FEATURING

TOUR 1

(Played to world rules)

7-9 February

BLACKPOOL

FESTIVAL OF POOL EASTER WEEKEND 18 - 21 APRIL 2014

MAIN AMATEUR* TOUR & CHALLENGE EVENTS

TOUR 2

18-21 April

NORTHANTS

TOUR 3

30 May -1 June

DAVENTRY

TOUR 5

24-26 October

NORTHANTS

TOUR 4

5-7 September

PUMA HOT ELS COLLECTION

HINCKLEY

For details contact UK Pool Tour 20 South View, Bamford, Rochdale, OL11 5HU Tel: 01706 642770 gharwood@eightballpoolmarketing.freeserve.co.uk

THE BELGIAN BILLIARD BALLS

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UK POOL TOUR 2014

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Welcome to the

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Details

Tour Challenge World Masters Festival of Pool events Premier League 2014

The Prize Fund for 2014 will be £116,000. This includes:

The 2014 UK Pool Tour is open to amateur* players only. *Current recognised professional players who wish to enter the UK Pool Tour can do so by signing a declaration to relinquish their professional status, returning to amateur, and their application is accepted by the organisers.

There will be 5 tour weekends; all held at 4-star Hotels. Supreme pool tables, Aramith balls and Strachan fabric will be used. All players must stay at the hotel (minimum 2 nights stay per tour).

Special accommodation rates are available to players and guests.

Players on the tour are entitled to play in the main tour plus the Challenge event. Players will have the opportunity to play at the 2014 World Masters with a £18,000 prize fund (additional £40 entry fee will apply).

Park Inn Hotels Festival Of Pool will have a prize fund of £25,000.

For 2014 the prize fund will be as follows: Main Tour Winner £2,400

Runner-up £1,200

Challenge Event Winner Runner-up £1,000 £600

Semi-finalist Quarter-finalist £600

£400

Semi-finalist Quarter-finalist £400 £200

Last 16

Last 32

£200

£125

Last 16 £100

Last 32 £50

The costs are: Entry fees to the UK Tour will be Hotel accommodation including breakfast is £43 per night sharing, supplement for single occupancy. FREE parking at all venues.

Each game of the Tour and the Challenge is allocated a specific time to enable players to know when they are playing, for every round of each event.

£480.

For year 2014, it is expected that there will be a minimum of 180 players on the tour.

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ALL EVENTS ARE OPEN DRAWS Ranking lists will be published after each tour based on players performances.

The ranking lists will be on an annual basis, points can be gained from both Tour and Challenge events. U.K. Tour events are open draws, there are no seeded placings.

U.K. Tour players will have direct entry into the World Masters.

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PREMIER LEAGUE 2014 At the end of season 2013, the top ranked players will be eligible to enter the 2014 Premier League event which will have substantial prize funds. Players in the Premier League will play against each other in Round Robin format.

All Premier League players will receive prize monies, providing they complete all fixtures.

PRIZE FUND FOR 2014 The prize fund for each of the 5 main tour events for year 2014 will be £10,000, winner receives £2,400. In addition there will also be 5 Challenge events, each with a prize fund of £4,800, winner receives £1,000. (players who play in the Premier League are not eligible to play in the Challenge event). Tour Two will include the Park Inn Hotels Festival Of Pool with total prize fund of £25,000.

VENUES AND SPONSORS UK Pool Tours commence on Friday Afternoon and conclude around 4 pm on the Sunday (NB only Bank Holiday weekend will be Tour 2 - Easter when additional events will be held.) various venues to be used, sponsored by Supreme, Milliken, Aramith and Puma Hotels.

All events will be played to World Rules, tour matches will have a minimum of best of 13 frames. Every game held during a tour will have an allocated time. The schedule of matches will be announced a minimum of 2 weeks prior to each tour.

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Players will receive an official UK Pool Tour shirt. No jeans or trainers will be allowed, trousers and shoes to be worn while playing in all UK Pool Tour events.

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Players must stay at the venue. All bookings must be made via the UK Pool Tour.

Anyone in default of this ruling will not be allowed to compete in any of the events.

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Tables are on free play for all events. Practise is only allowed after conclusion of all games in the evening. The room will be closed from 2 am.

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There will be no seeded placings and each event will be an ‘open’ draw. There will be a one year ranking system in operation.

To join the 2014 UK Pool Tour - return the enclosed form, with £50 deposit.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If your application is not successful your deposit will be returned as soon as possible.

Once your entry is accepted, a further payment of £120 is payable by 18 th November, then £100 payable 6th January 2014. Payment of £100 at Tour 1 with balance of £110 by Tour 2.

Fees are non-refundable. All players must pay the annual and also all of the entry fees even if they do not attend all of the tours. The organisers reserve the right to replace any entrant who fails to make the payment deadline as set out above.

The organisers reserve the right to decline any unsuitable new applicants.

DIARY OF EVENTS PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 2013 DATE OCTOBER

25th - 27th 25th - 27th

NOVEMBER 8th - 10th

EVENT TITLE

VENUE

UK POOL TOUR 5 PREMIER LEAGUE

PARK INN NORTHANTS PARK INN NORTHANTS

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

2014 7th - 9th 7th - 9th

UK POOL TOUR 1 PREMIER LEAGUE

IMPERIAL, BLACKPOOL IMPERIAL, BLACKPOOL

15th - 22nd

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

DOLMAN HOTEL, MALTA

1st - 2nd

INTER-COUNTY FINALS

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

27th - 30th

INTER-LEAGUE FINALS

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

APRIL

18th - 21st 18th - 21st

UK POOL TOUR 2 PREMIER LEAGUE

HINCKLEY HOTEL HINCKLEY HOTEL

MAY

9th -10th

GOLDEN CUE FINALS

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

FEBRUARY

MARCH

JUNE JULY

30th -1st JUNE UK POOL TOUR 3 30th -1st JUNE PREMIER LEAGUE

DAVENTRY DAVENTRY

22nd 27th - 29th 1st - 2nd

WEPF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WORLD MASTERS SKYSPORTS TELEVISED FINALS

IMPERIAL, BLACKPOOL IMPERIAL, BLACKPOOL IMPERIAL, BLACKPOOL

UK POOL TOUR 4 PREMIER LEAGUE

HINCKLEY HOTEL HINCKLEY HOTEL

2nd - 5th

INTER-LEAGUE K.O. ENGLISH AMATEUR SINGLES

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

24th - 26th 24th - 26th

UK POOL TOUR 5 PREMIER LEAGUE

TO BE DECIDED TO BE DECIDED

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK

SEPTEMBER 5th - 7th 5th - 7th OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 7th - 9th

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