WILSON WINS IN STYLE
131 IN FINAL FRAME
BOBAT, 11, SEMI FINALIST
Matt Wilson, High Wycombe won the opening event of the 2008 Open Series Willie Thorne?s, Leicester in fine style beating journeyman Simon Seabridge, Stoke, 3-0 in the final with a break of 55 in the 1st frame ending the days play with a 131 total clearance.
A very pleasing 33 players took part on the first Sunday of the year four hundreds were recorded 138?s from both Wilson and Ian Burns plus the 131 and 108 from 16 year old Nick Jennings the previous days Under 17 winner.
The new double main entry first match losers worked very well the only downside playing best of 7?s might have to be changed after the first round if more players attend over the next few months ? It made running the event easier on paper and gave all players at least ten frames.
The winner scored well all day with 13 breaks over 40 those coming in wins against Gordon Lam 4-0, 44 and 75, Alex Anastasiou, 69,68,44 and 40, Nick Jennings 4-2 nothing on the tight match table.
Then Luke Higginbotham 3-1, 138,74 and 55 and lastly 3-2 over Ian Burns, Wilson 61 in the decider looked to have won 3-1 after a 55 break in the 3rd frame Burns cleared with 56 for 2-2.
From the bottom half of the draw Seabridge after losing his first match 4-2 to Craig Rutherford who made a 88 break defeated Clive Wilkes 4-0, Scott McGaw 4-2 and Gareth Green 3-0 with just a 47 break to show.
Youngster goes close
In the semi finals Adam Bobat,11 made the Potteries league player struggle the youngster awarded the ?Star of the Future? in 2007 Under 16?s won four matches to reach his first senior last four could have won the first frame missing the final red only to see Seabridge clear up to the black and go on to win 3-1.
Shanker wins plate
Following on from a good finish in the 2007 Under 21 series Lee Shanker, Derby, won his first senior title beating Jason Bates, Bourne, 2-0 in the plate final.
Next event Sunday February 3rd ?15 entry ? 11am start
The first Wednesday Open takes place on the 6th , ?25 entry.
No parking available in the week ? Use Halford Street car park.
Ample under club unofficial parking on Sunday?s.
Malcolm Thorne
Last 16 ? 15 points
M.Wilson bt N.Jennings 4-2
L.Higginbotham 78,43 bt 41 S.Harvey 4-3
D.Brindle bt M.Cushion 4-3
I.Burns 57 bt K.Wilson 4-0
A.Bobat 42 bt S.Lam 4-0
D.Wilks 66 bt S.Knight 4-1
S.Seabridge bt S.McGaw 4-2
G.Green bt S.Smith 4-0
Quarter finals ?20 ? 30 points
Wilson 138,74,55 bt Higginbotham 3-1
Burns 57 bt Brindle 3-2
Bobat bt Wilkes 3-0
Seabridge bt Green 3-0
Semi finals ?30 ? 45 points
Wilson 61,55 bt 56 Burns 3-2
Seabridge bt Bobat 3-1
Final ?100/?50 ? 80/60 points
Wilson 55,131 bt Seabridge 3-0
Plate
Quarter finals ?15 ? 5 points
W.Holbrook 42,47,48 bt J.Acs 2-0
J.Bates bt C.Rutherford 2-1
S.martin 47 bt N.Charalambous 2-0
L.Shanker 47 bt K.Yates 2-0
Semi finals ?20 ? 7 points
Bates bt Holbrook 2-1
Shanker bt Martin 2-0
Final ?50/?35 15/10 points
Shanker bt Bates 2-0