IBSF World Under 21 Championship

[NS Admin]

MICHAEL GEORGIOU WINS WORLD UNDER 21?S

London?s Micheal Georgiou, Forest Hill, has won the IBSF World Under 21 Snooker Championship, Goa, India defeating Anda Zhang, China 11-6 to earn a place on the World Snooker Tour 2008/2009.

Georgiou 2nd in the group stage after losing to free scoring Zhang who made breaks of 126,104 and five others over sixty in the seven best of seven group matches to Georgiou?s runs of 68 and 72 the Londoner would have been 2nd favourite for the title.

However the former English junior international from 7-6 ahead reeled of the last four frames comfortably to clinch his place on snooker?s top flight next season.

The Chinese teenager started the final well leading 4-2 with breaks of 86,61 and 112, Georgiou then fought back to lead 6-4 a 77 break in the 7th frame, the 8th on the black and a run of 49 to win the 9th frame.

Zhang won the 11th frame on the black, Georgiou responded with a 72 for 7-5, Zhang then a 78 break, a 38 restored the two frame cushion, the 15th on the last colours for
9-6.

Over the last two frames Georgiou restricted Zhang to just seven points to claim a famous victory to more than make up for his disappointment in the English Under 19 final last May.   

Frame scores winner first ;

(19-88)86, (67-31), (16-69)61, 46(69-64), (56-62), (0-112)112, 77(104-0), (59-58), 49(72-24), (71-46), (61-65), 72(73-8), (0-78)78, 38(61-22), (79-43), (79-0), (76-7).

Two close matches

The champion won both his first two matches in the knockout stage last 32, 5-4 from 3-0 down Georgiou defeated Thor Chaun Leong, Malaysia all the frames settled on the last few colours and made a break of 58 in the final frame to beat Passakorn Suwannawat, Thailand.

He then crushed Yu Dela, China 6-1 with breaks of 50 and 55 followed by a 8-5 win in the semi finals against in form Vincent Muldoon, Rep of Ireland scoring consistently with seven breaks over thirty topped with by a 86.

At the same stage Zhang edged Daniel Wells, Wales, 8-6 making two more century?s 108 and 109

Both Williams qualify for final stage

Both England?s other two entrants Matt and Robbie Williams qualified for the knockout stage, Matt from Plymouth came 3rd in his group after losing 3 matches but lost 5-2 in the last 32 to Dela.

Robbie from Wallasey won his group losing just one match to Egypt?s Yasser el Shirbene scoring well with breaks of 67,97,99 and 116.
Whitewashed David Bailey, New Zealand 5-0 then lost 5-2 in a low scoring match to Jordan Brown, Northern Ireland in the last sixteen.

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker