GDT Open: Bash Maqsood 3-1 Dave Milner

[maqsood]

Gary's Driver Training Open Singles Snooker Championship

Bash Maqsood 3 v Dave Milner 1

Breaks : bash, 35,55 &61  Dave 26 &31

Firstly, i like to congratulate Dave on really putting up a good fight and making this win for me as hard as possible. Dave played very, very well in this match and done well to keep me cold in the first few frames. He missed only a few shots and the ones he missed were the ones that cost him dearest. I like the fact that Dave came into this match with a game plan and a very positive attitude and believing in himself that he has a chance. Players at all levels sometimes "mentally" concede matches thinking their opponent is far too good for them. Not Dave, he showed self belief right to the end and credit to him for that.

The only other player, i've played locally, who i feel really does believe in his own ability is Jamie Samson. It's a very difficult thing to do, even when i play players beyond myself, it's easy to think, that you can't win and perhaps if i had a little more self belief then who know.

Perhaps you could help me Ross W as your into the sports Psyhcology !

Frame 1 - i was on a 25 break and looked like making a few more when i under hit a black and it didn't reach the pocket. Dave made an few  mini breaks and i won it with Dave needing two snooker on the yellow. i went 1-0 up.

Frame 2 - the balls went very scrappy in this one and there was some great safety by both of us.  the frame was nip and tuck and i ended up need the brown to secure the frame. i missed a relatively simple brown with the dreaded rest. Dave pot a cracking long brown, a absolute cracking blue and attempted a safety on the ping. I tried to cut a very thin pink in and left it on the bag. Dave cleared blue and pink to level match at 1-1.

Dave then wanted a fag break to which I agreed. He went out for a fag break whilst I remained indoors for a "prayer break"

" Our father who art in heaven..........etc
I started having words with the good lord saying "O Lordy, please helping me, Ali in very , very big problem again. O dearing me, my Lordy, please you sending angels to helping me. Mr Milner giving me problem - now match is best of 3 , there is tension tension. Oh my Lordy of the 7 th heaven, please please helping me and Ali.

Oh My Lord, please sending me 12 legions of angels, i very much needing assistance........

Anyway, I wanted to carry on praying but Dave interrupted me as he wanted to continue with the match.

Frame 3 - Dave got the best chance first after potting a good red, but he missed an easy black off the best. This was now by best chance of the match and I scored a 55 break and missed an easy red. Dave fired back with a 31 and had me in trouble on a safety shot with 1 red left.

I now am now thinking i have  had a 55 break and still have a chance of losing this frame. i played a a great safety in reply to get myself in and then cleared shortly after with a 35.

Frame 4 - I got an early 20 point lead and taking no risks played safe. Dave got a few points back and then played a bad safety which i scored another 15 off and played safe again. After a little more safety . I got myself in and had a nice 61 clearance.

The match was a lot harder than the scoreline suggest and as I said Dave made me work for it. Well don bash and bad luck to Dave.

bash

[Jamie Sampson]

Thanks for the compliment bash to be fair your not good anyway  I dont what everyone is banging on about :laugh: :laugh:Nah seriously well played and no doubt we will get drawn in the order of merit next week as we always do  :welldone:

[maqsood]

Cheers Jamie for the compliment. Hope to avoid you at the next pego.

Bash