EASB Pro-Ticket Tour - Event 3 (12th & 13th January 2008)

[Steve Butler]

Mansfield's Andrew Diacopoulos climbed to 52nd in the EASB Pro Ticket ranking list after reaching the last 32 of the third event held at Newmarket Snooker and Bowl. He defeated James Height 4-1 in the last 64 and then lost by the same score to Darren Cook in the last 32. Arnold's Barry Stark was beaten 4-1 in the first round by Ian Burns.

Peter Lines cemented his place at the top of the rankings after defeating Hugh Abernathy 5-2 in the final. Both ex professionals played well in the final, Abernathy opened a 2-1 lead with breaks of 66 and 52, Lines who won the 1st event replied with efforts of 71,54 and 50 for a 4-2 advantage despite Abernathy making a run of 51 in the 6th frame, Lines took the 7th frame on the black.

Frame Scores
(18-71)66, (73-49), (0-84)53, 71(76-35), 54(75-51)51, 50(69-0), (70-64) 5-2.

Lines only lost 5 frames during the weekend beating Marc Harman 4-0, Tam Mustafa 4-1 breaks of 81 and 63, four ton Paul Sweeny 4-1, Nick Pearce now 4th in the rankings 4-2, Lines 47,60 and 54, Pearce 60 and earlier free scoring Northern Snooker club mate David Grace 4-1, Lines 69.

Abernathy is up to 8th in the rankings after losing just 8 frames in his six matches defeating Matthew Bulbeck 4-2, Kyren Wilson 4-2, 57 break, Ian Burns 4-0, Jonathan Bagley 4-2, 69 break, Abernathy 108, Alex Dunkley 4-0, 87 and 81 and finally his 4th 4-2 win against Scott Miller, 66 break, Miller 65 and 62 to lead 2-1.

Twenty seven century?s were recorded over the two days the highest a 144 from Paul Davison in the 1st round, Matt Wilson and Paul Sweeny weighed in with four hundreds each. Wilson 122,123 and 105 to beat Liam Highfield 4-1 followed by a deciding frame 143 to beat Mike King 4-3, King playing his part with breaks of 51,107 and 58 plus a 137 in his first match. Sweeny after a 121 final frame break to beat Nathan Williams, featured in the events best match beating former England Amateur finalist Wayne Cooper 4-3. Breaks of 118 and 115 gave the Kent player a 2-0 lead, Cooper bounced back with runs of 106 and 69 to gain the advantage 3-2 only for Sweeny to finish with breaks of 137 and 86, Cooper had made breaks of 100 and 110 to edge Matt Jelley 4-3 in the first round.

David Grace netted the most reported breaks over fifty twelve with no century?s, Matt Wilson made ten with his four tons.

Event 2 winner Stuart Carrington is still 2nd Andy Lee 3rd, Pearce 4th, Paul Metcalf 5th, Craig Steadman 6th, Grace 7th, 122 players have so far taken part.

The next event is on Feb 23/24th Willie Thorne Snooker, Leicester.

For all news/results/details www.englishsnooker.com

Report courtesy of Malcolm Thorne, English Snooker