EASB Pro-Ticket Tour Event 6 (19th & 20th April 2008)

[NS Admin]

COOPER WINS FINAL PRO TICKET AND RANKINGS

Bradford?s Wayne Cooper with a tremendous late run has won the English Pro Ticket Rankings a one of England?s Main Tour places for next season after beating David Grace 5-3 in the 6th and final event of the Tour, Northern Snooker, Leeds.

Cooper now 29, reached the Main Tour back in 2001/2002 but two close bereavements prior to qualification occupied his thoughts at the time and Cooper?s form slumped.

This season Cooper has now won two back to back Pro tickets reached the English Amateur North Final losing to Grace 6-3 has the Yorkshire Final to play, Bradford semi final and is also in the last four of the CIU.

After reaching the first Tour event semi final back in October Cooper had not progressed by the last 16 slipping down the rankings until winning the 5th Event, Woking, March.

Cooper opened the final in Leeds with a 51 break, Grace led 2-1 with a 65, Cooper then turned the screw to win the next three frames comfortably too lead 4-2, Grace reduced the arrears with a 87 but to late to change the outcome.

Frame scores 51(85-22), (26-108), (24-66)65, (75-10), (95-6), (68-34), (20-87)87, (66-26) ? 5-3

To extend his unbeaten run in the series to 14 matches Cooper again played disciplined match snooker won his first three matches after a walkover 4-2 defeating Jeff Cundy, Sam Baird breaks of 51,63 and 59, Michael Wild 83,59 and 136 the weekend?s highest break, Wild 64,the previous match he made breaks of 124,70 and 103.

In the quarter finals Cooper crushed former English Amateur Finalist Martin O?Donnell 4-1, 62 break and ex Main Tour ranking semi finalist Nick Pearce again 4-2. Pearce with a 53 led 2-0, Cooper winning three close frames.

Grace boosted after beating Cooper the previous Sunday to reach the English Amateur final again cruised through the bottom half of the draw beating Nathan Williams 4-2 59 break, Ian Burns 4-1,61, Stuart Watson 4-1, club mate Peter Lines 4-0, 70 and Brian Cox 4-1.

Cox in his best performance for a long time had beaten Adam Duffy 4-2, Tam Mustafa 4-1 and Greg Batten also 4-1 making breaks of 56,54,56,58,111 and 51 along the way.

Peter Lines Main Tour bound from the PIOS brutally battered Phil Mumford 4-0 with runs of 107,100 and 108.

Adam Wicheard made nine breaks over forty in his first two matches topped by an 85 then lost tamely 4-3 to Greg Batten.

James Leadbetter finished with breaks of 90,93 and 54 but still lost 4-3 as Scott Miller cleared with 56 in the final frame, Ian Glover made three breaks over fifty also losing 4-3 to Gariod O?Connor who made a 100.

The play offs for the 2nd Main Tour place take place over the weekend 24th/25th May confirmation letters will be sent out shortly.

For all EASB details see www.englishsnooker.com

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker