EASB Pro-Ticket Play-offs

[NS Admin]

GOULD BACK ON MAIN TOUR

GRACE LETS SLIP A 3-1 LEAD

Current English Amateur Champion Martin Gould reclaimed his place back on the World Snooker Main Tour defeating ex English Amateur winner David Grace 6-3 in the EASB Pro-Ticket Play Offs at the Associations main sponsors club, Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.

Gould came prepared with his suitcase packed for the top flights opening qualifiers, Shanghai Masters the following Tuesday travelling straight to Pontins, Prestatyn for a match against Lee Spick (Mansfield).
The Londoner will have too win 4 matches in North Wales too book a possible game in the Far East, August with Australian Neil Robertson the winner of two titles last season.

Grace from the home club led 3-1 playing well with breaks of 50 and 88 after losing a close 1st frame, Gould closed the gap with a run of 54 going on to lead 5-3 winning the 6th and 7th frames on the last few colours.

In the 9th frame Grace missed a simple black to middle off the final red to secure the frame, Gould 27 down with the colours left cleared to the black, missed his first attempt, duly taking the second chance.
Three good safety shots on the re spot followed before Grace under hit a safety, Gould potted the match winner to the yellow pocket nearly going in off to middle.

Frame scores, Gould first :
(57-47), (12-67), (13-68)50, (9-78)88, 54(86-1), (74-62), (66-42), (62-30), (56-49).

Gould opened the weekend with a 5-0 win over Stuart Watson followed by a 5-3 victory against ex Main Tour player Gary Wilson. One of six in the 16 man field, Gould led 3-0 with efforts of 57 and 63, Wilson fought back to 3-0, Gould finishing convincingly with breaks of 63 and 64.

The next day Gould defeated teenager Stephen Craigie in the semi finals 5-2 again Gould started strongly with breaks of 64 and 71 to lead 3-0, Craigie back to 3-2, Gould once again the better finisher with a 65 break in the 6th frame.

Grace opened his campaign with a 5-3 win over English team mate Craig Steadman with breaks of 64,103 and 57, Steadman 64 then crushed Adam Duffy 5-1 with a 97 break although the last three frames only decided on the last few colours.

On Sunday morning Grace edged Michael Wild 5-4 after trailing 4-2, Wild despite a break of 61 lost the 7th frame on the black, Grace won the last two frames comfortably.

In the first round Craigie had beaten 5 times English Amateur finalist David Lilley
5-3 from 3-2 down, Lilley 92, Craigie winning the 8th frame from 63 points adrift and then overcame PIOS event winner Kuldesh Johal 5-2.

Wild reached the semi finals by beating Sam Baird 5-1 and IBSF World finalist Daniel Ward 5-4 after leading 3-1 and then trailing 4-3.

Malcolm Thorne
English Association of Snooker and Billiards

First round
K.Johal (Huddersfield) 54 bt M.Williams (Plymouth) 5-3
S.Craigie (Newcastle) 58 bt 92 D.Lilley (Hebburn) 5-3
G.Wilson (Gateshead) 73,52 bt 52 J.McGouran (Hull) 5-4
M.Gould (Pinner) bt S.Watson (Birmingham) 5-0
D.Ward (Wednesbury) bt 91 M.Rhodes (Durham) 5-1
M.Wild (Oldham) bt S.Baird (Exeter) 5-1
A.Duffy (Sheffield) 97 bt G.Behbood (Harrogate) 5-0
D.Grace (Leeds) 64,103,57 bt 64 C.Steadman (Bolton) 5-3

Quarter finals
Craigie 57,61 bt Johal 5-2
Gould 57,63,63,64 bt Wilson 5-3
Wild bt Ward 5-4
Grace 97 bt Duffy 5-1

Semi finals
Gould 64,71,65 bt Craigie 5-2
Grace bt 61 Wild 5-4

Final
Gould 54 bt 50,88 Grace 6-3