EASB Pro-Ticket Tour - Event 4 (31/01/09)

[NS Admin]

ENGLISH PRO TICKET 4

BRAVE WICHEARD WINS WELL IN LEEDS

ROBERTSON STILL TOP OF RANKINGS

Adam Wicheard, Trowbridge completed his comeback from serious health problems with a convincing performance, Northern SC, Leeds to win Event 4, EASB Pro Ticket Tour beating rankings leader Jimmy Robertson, Bexhill on Sea 4-2 in the final.

Wicheard unable to walk after a life and death operation a few years ago gate crashed the top eight in the rankings from 59th place, Robertson is on 694 points, Stuart Carrington 565, Alfie Burden 456, Michael Wild 429, Robbie Williams 408, Sean Bullock 386 up from 12th, Chris Norbury 358 and Wicheard 357 make up the top eight.

The series winner with two events still to play will be England?s nomination to the Main Tour with the next ranked 32 players playing off at the end of May for another place.

Wicheard lost the first frame of the final won the next three two on the colours the 4th 89-0 Robertson won the 5th frame 67-0 but to no avail as Wicheard closed out the win again on the colours.
(30-59), (76-46), (61-41), (89-0), (67-0), (71-47) ? 4-2.

The winner only hit trouble in the semi finals against Carrington the Shrimper led 2-0 and 3-2, Wicheard took the decider 66-1. 

Wicheard won his first three matches 4-1 beating Chris Martin 82 break, Allan Taylor 112 and 113, Scott Raper who made a 104, Wicheard 94 and in the quarters Sam Thistlewhite 4-2, 73 break to finish.

Robertson only struggled in the first round 3-2 down to Matt Wilson who led with breaks of 86 and 81, Robertson 82 and then 98 for 3-3, Wilson lost out in the decider despite a 64 break.

Reprieved to beat Ian Glover 4-2 breaks of 69 and 62, Mark Sutton 4-1 86 and 69, Sutton 62, Jeff Cundy 4-1, 66 and 113 and finally Sean Bullock 4-1, 83 break.

Kyren Wilson made the highest break 124 in the first round crushing England captain Craig Steadman 4-0 losing 4-3 in his next match to Robbie Williams.

Jamie O?Neill played well up to the last eight beating Chris Norbury 4-3,
David Craggs in a cracker also 4-3 who led 3-2 with breaks of 51,56 and 117,
O?Neill 56,67 and 98 followed by breaks of 100 and 110 to beat Damien Anderson, 68, 4-2 and Robbie Williams 4-1 efforts of 75 and 99.

Event 3 winner Alfie Burden started well with runs of 56,68,113 and 118 in his first two matches losing 4-2 in the last 32 to Adam Duffy.

For full results/rankings and other English Snooker news.

See www.englishsnooker.com

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker