Paul Hunter English Open (14-19 August 2007)

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You can view the draw for the Paul Hunter English open here.

Nottingham's Barry Stark has been drawn against Tony Drago in round 1.

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COUCH EDGES ROBERSTON TO WIN EASB PAUL HUNTER ENGLISH OPEN

Ex pro Matthew Couch clinched the inaugural EASB Paul Hunter English Open on pink 6-5 over World No 7 Neil Robertson at the sponsors venue Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds to pocket the ?4,000 first prize.

The event generated just over ?1,500 for the Paul Hunter Foundation boosted by the runner up purchasing a signed cue from the 2004 Betfred Premier League for ?250  when the raffle winner Kuldesh Johal put the cue up for auction.

In the final Couch raced to a 4-0 lead against Robertson who won two ranking events last season with breaks of 80 and 61 winning all four frames easily, Robertson reduced the arrears with a 74 break then pinched the 6th frame on the black despite a run of 50 from Couch and the close 7th for 4-3.

A break of 60 saw Couch then lead 5-3, Robertson fought back to 5-5 with a 62 break in the 10th frame, however the under dog claimed a fine win with a green to pink clearance in the decider.

The winner only struggled in the last 16 during the weeks play he opened with a 5-2 win over another top flight player Jamie O?Neill playing well with efforts of 94 twice, 88 and 54.

Crushed teenager Lee Shanker 5-1, 117 break, Shanker 82 then made a break of 55 in the final frame to beat former English Amateur finalist Wayne Cooper 5-4 who made a 74 in the 8th frame, Couch 73 to lead 2-1.

Couch easily won the next two matches 5-1 beating Jamie Barrett, 79 break and Simon Bedford with scores of 55,81 and 103 and finally in the semi final?s rookie Alex Davies 5-2 with breaks of 64 and 74, Davis only scoring 16 points over the last three frames.

Frame scores Couch first :
(68-21), (67-4), 80(80-0), 61(90-40), (17-77)74, 50(54-61), 4-2
(41-61), 60(75-47), (30-67), (39-82)62, (66-37). 6-5

Five ton?s for Robbo

Robertson made 5 century?s to reach the final but he struggled to beat Shaun Parkes 5-4 in the first round the amateur leading 3-2, Robertson a 86 break to lead 4-3 winning the final frame easily.

The Aussie then stepped up a gear to beat Under 16 international James Silverwood 5-1 the youngster having beaten Leo Fernandez 5-3 in the last 64, Ricky Walden 5-2, Robertson breaks of 134,53 and 133 to finish, Walden 59 and 74.

Then Jimmy Robertson back in the top flight 5-3, the South Coast version leading 3-2 after winning the 4th frame on a respot, 56 break to a counter 51 from Robertson who went in off the last ball, 52 and 50 from the winner, 77 and 62 his name sake.

Wasley surprises the names

To reach the final he thumped junior international Michael Wasley 5-1 in the last four with breaks of 102,113,100, the 16 year old having beaten pro Ben Woollaston 5-3,
58 and 100 breaks plus ex English Open finalist Andy Lee 5-1.

Parsons pardons Davies

Antony Parsons let slip a 4-1 lead over Alex Davies in the last eight to lose 5-4 after defeating Joe Perry 5-4 earlier with breaks of 76 and 66 shocking the World No 18 with a run of 90 in the decider.

Raffle winner Kuldesh Johal made breaks of 110,58,61 and 72 to Jimmy Robertson?s solitary 113 but still ended up losing 5-3 in the last 16.

Earlier notice for 2008

It is hoped that next season the dates for this expected annual event will be settled earlier to enable more players from the pro ranks to support the worth while Paul Hunter Foundation and make aware to all that any player from any country can enter the event even though it is called the English Open.

Full results ? All rounds www.globalsnooker.com
Pictures ? www.northernsnookercentre.co.uk

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker

Last 32

J.Barrett 52,86,59 bt 48.81 K.Ashraf 5-2
M.Couch 73,55 bt 74 W.Cooper 5-4
J.Leadbetter 60,64,65 bt S.Mifsud 5-3
S.Bedford 62,68,67 bt M.Rhodes 5-1
D.Grace 65,62,60,61 bt 53 C.Steadman 5-3
Alex Davies 83,73 bt N.Colehan 5-0
A.Parsons 76,66,90 bt 92 J.Perry 5-4
B.Miller bt M.James 5-0
R.Walden bt Adam Davies 5-1
N.Robertson bt J.Silverwood 5-1
J.Robertson 61,56,57 bt C.Mottershaw 5-0
K.Johal bt W.Brown 5-0
B.Woollaston 66 bt 70 R.Wilson 5-4
M.Wasley 66 bt S.Wilkes 5-0
A.Lee 65,58 bt R.Wood 5-1
M.Pal bt G.Wilson 5-2

Last 16 - ?135

Couch 79 bt Barrett 5-1
Bedford 40,92 bt Leadbetter 5-0
Davies 63 bt Grace 5-2
Parsons bt Miller 5-3
N,Robertson 134,57,133 bt 59,74 Walden 5-2
J.Robertson 113 bt 110,58,61,75 Johal 5-3
Wasley 58,100 bt Wollaston 5-3
Lee 62,61,70 bt 67,67 Pal 5-3

Quarter finals - ?300

Couch 55,81,103 bt Bedford 5-1
Davies bt Parsons 5-4
N.Robertson 52,51,50 bt 77,56,61 J.Robertson 5-3
Wasley bt Lee 5-1

Semi finals - ?750

Couch 64,74 bt Davies 5-2
Robertson 102,113,100 bt 61 Wasley 5-1

Final - ?4000/?2000

Couch 80,61,50,60 bt 74,62 Robertson 6-5