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THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
Rileys American Pool and Snooker Club - Shepherds Bush
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Shepherds Bush
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Friday/Saturday/Sunday 17-18-19 July 2009

Darren Appleton during the final of the GB9 London Classic at Shepherds Bush.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Appleton's keep it in the family at The GB9 London Classic

An Appleton featured in each of the three division finals at Rileys American Pool Club in Shepherd's Bush, London this weekend, as 10-Ball World Champion Darren won the main event, and also managed a runner up spot in The Pro Cup event, whilst his lesser-known cousin Andy Appleton scored his first final in the Challenge Division at the GB9 London Classic this weekend.

GB9 is Britain�s official professional 9 ball pool tour. The tour has quickly cemented itself as the toughest and most respected national pool tour in Europe with a line up of players other nations can only dream of, such as the 2007 World Pool Champion - Daryl Peach; European Number 1 - Mark Gray, 2008 World 10 Ball Champion - Darren Appleton, London's finest - Imran Majid and Raj Hundal, snooker legend Tony Drago, and a special guest appearance at this event by former European Mosconi Cup winning team player Lee Tucker.

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Crazy as it may seem, it must be said that Appleton's game appeared to be a bit scrappy compared to his usual inch perfect position, and despite his consistent victories over this World Class field, he admitted that the he had struggled with the all-important break shot.

Appleton's next engagement will not be until the Austrian EuroTour, as he has been reliably informed that the scheduled Europe vs. Asia battle has been postponed due to complications and fears concerning the worldwide Swine Flu epidemic.

Despite this disappointment, he won't be at a loss for things to do as he has quickly filled the gap with a 2 week break to go fishing with his good friend and newly crowned English World 8 Ball Pool Champion Phil Harrison from Surrey.

Fellow finalist and good friend Scott Higgins is on the receiving end of Appleton's
well known sense of humour at the pre-final photo opportunity.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

Darren Appleton presented with his trophy by Hassan Malik from Rileys.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

9 Ball World Champion Daryl Peach was stopped in both events by
the 10 Ball World Champion, Darren Appleton.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

Tournament Director Shirley Ang presents Adam Benn Smith with his Trophy.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Benn Smith finds an extra gear for Challenge Cup victory

Adam Benn Smith has now finished in the final at three of the last four Challenge Division events, and his earnings from pool are beginning to eclipse many of the Pro Cup players.

He enjoyed his final with Andy Appleton, and although Appleton had a few chances to pile on some pressure, his experience on the final match table with it's superior Z9 Cloth helped him get over the line yet again.

Actually, the Challenge Cup champion's toughest match on the route to the final table came earlier on, from Steve Folan, who sped away to a commanding 7-2 lead in the race to 9 quarter-final stages.

"I was down and out in that match, but I found an extra gear from somewhere", said Smith, after he managed to turn the score around to take the match with a 9-7 victory.

"I really thought I was dead and buried there, but when I won that match I really thought it was going to be my day".

Imran Majid has been knocked off the GB9 number 1 spot for the first time ever.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

The new red cloth, part of a sponsorship deal between Rileys and Coca-Cola.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

Mark Gray receives his trophy and cheque for winning the London Classic Pro Cup.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Gray finally breaks Majid's vice-like grip on GB No.1 spot!

The third event of the weekend is the GB9 Pro Cup, and is exclusively for the cream of British talent. These 32 players have earned promotion from the Challenge Division, or retained their place with good finishes in the previous season,

Arguably one of the tougher events of the weekend, it was dominated last season by Daryl Peach, but he was edged out in the semi-finals by Darren Appleton, and Imran Majid who notched up an incredible run of victories in the main event last season, was stopped at this event by Darren Appleton too, in the Last 16 Stage.

Appleton, the newly crowned WPA Number One Ranked Player in the World then met former European Number One Ranked Player Mark Gray in the final, and it was Gray who lead all the way, actually racking up a considerable lead until Appleton mounted a comeback, only to be thwarted by a dominating performance by Gray in the latter stages.

"That was the best I've played all tournament", said Gray afterwards. "This means a bit extra to me, as everyone probably knows there's some added 'spice' to this match."

"It's great to be back on the winner's podium again" said Gray, as despite his many European wins, this was Gray's first victory in a GB9 Pro Cup event, hopefully the first of many.

Gray's semi-final finish in the GB9 London Classic, the main event of the weekend has also bumped him into the top spot on the Main Tour provisional rankings, a full 10 points clear of nearest rival Daryl Peach who now holds the number two position, followed by Karl Boyes and Imran Majid in 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Action from the GB9 London Classic in Shepherds Bush, London.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

GB9 players in action at the gorgeous Rileys club in Shepherds Bush.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

Craig Dixon enjoys a match on the superb Z9 Billiard Cloth covered match tables.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

THE STATS

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE LAST 32
Imran Majid	9 : 1	Chun Hao Man
Stephen Capaldi	9 : 8	Tony Burton
Anthony Ginn	9 : 6	Ben Moore
Damian Overton	9 : 6	Steven Petty
Adam Benn Smith	9 : 7	Gareth Steele
Paul Williams	9 : 3	Liam Wilson
Scott Higgins	9 : 2	James Welch
Alan Coton	9 : 5	Karl Boyes
Daryl Peach	9 : 5	Andy Worthington
Darren Appleton	9 : 5	Richard Jones
Jayson Shaw	9 : 1	Stewart Colclough
Chris Buckmaster	9 : 8	Craig Osborne
Matthew Ford	9 : 6	Luke Rollison
Tony Drago	9 : 5	Damian Massey
Kevin Uzzell	9 : 7	Stephen Folan
Mark Gray	9 : 5	Andy Appleton

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE LAST 16
Imran Majid	9 : 5	Stephen Capaldi
Damian Overton	9 : 5	Anthony Ginn
Adam Benn Smith	9 : 4	Paul Williams
Scott Higgins	9 : 5	Alan Coton
Darren Appleton	9 : 4	Daryl Peach
Jayson Shaw	9 : 6	Chris Buckmaster
Matthew Ford	9 : 5	Tony Drago
Mark Gray	9 : 5	Kevin Uzzell

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE QUARTER FINALS
Imran Majid	9 : 6	Damian Overton
Scott Higgins	9 : 6	Adam Benn Smith
Darren Appleton	9 : 3	Jason Shaw
Mark Gray	9 : 5	Matthew Ford

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE SEMI FINALS
Scott Higgins	9 : 5	Imran Majid
Darren Appleton	9 : 6	Mark Gray

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE FINAL
Darren Appleton	10 : 7	Scott Higgins

---

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE LAST 32
Kevin Hew	8 : 4	Damian Massey
Luke Rollison	8 : 5	Gary Houstoun
Matthew Ford	8 : 3	Dave SImmonds
Lee Hersey	8 : 4	Paul Edwards
Dominic Clemmens	8 : 7	Stuart Daff
Neil Cummins	8 : 6	Lee Tucker
Phillip Wildman	8 : 4	Mark Hopgood
Andy Appleton	8 : 6	James Taylor
Stehpen Folan	8 : 2	Louis Clarke
Kevin Simpson	8 : 4	Clark Smith
Adam Benn Smith	8 : 1	Andy Lester
Jonny Cooper	8 : 7	Bartek Czapski
Oliver Ruuger	8 : 6	Gordon Bain
Martin Chapman	8 : 6	Colin Rennison
Liam Wilson	8 : 5	Mark Hughes
Anthony Ginn	8 : 2	Simon Clarke

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE LAST 16
Luke Rollison	8 : 3	Kevin Hew
Matthew Ford	8 : 4	Lee Hersey
Dominic Clemmens	8 : 4	Neil Cummins
Andy Appleton	8 : 2	Phillip Wildman
Stephen Folan	8 : 6	Kevin Simpson
Adam Benn Smith	8 : 5	Jonny Cooper
Martin Chapman	8 : 6	Oliver Ruuger
Anthony Ginn	8 : 6	Liam Wilson

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE QUARTER FINALS
Matthew Ford	9 : 7	Luke Rollison
Andy Appleton	9 : 7	Dominic Clemmens
Adam Benn Smith	9 : 7	Stephen Folan
Anthony Ginn	9 : 5	Martin Chapman

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE SEMI FINALS
Andy Appleton	9 : 4	Matthew Ford
Adam Benn Smith	9 : 4	Anthony Ginn

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE FINAL
Adam Benn Smith	9 : 5	Andy Appleton

---

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE PRO CUP
THE LAST 32
Craig Osborne	8 : 4	Alan Millership
Stephen Capaldi	8 : 6	Paul Williams
Michael Valentine	8 : 2	Chris Cowie
Karl Boyes	8 : 3	Richard Jones
Kevin Uzzell	8 : 5	Jack Triggs
Imran Majid	8 : 1	Jonathan Mathers
Darren Appleton	8 : 0	Tony Burton
James Kay	8 : 1	Simon Widlo
Tony Drago	8 : 4	James Carney
Phil Burford	8 : 2	Chris Buckmaster
Mark Gray	8 : 7	Stewart Colcough
Jayson Shaw	8 : 3	Andy Worthington
Raj Hundal	8 : 5	Bradley Parker
Scott Higgins	8 : 5	Jason Howard
Ben Moore	8 : 7	Damian Overton

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE PRO CUP
THE LAST 16
Daryl Peach	8 : 7	Craig Osborne
Michael Valetine	8 : 6	Stephen Capaldi
Karl Boyes	8 : 3	Kevin Uzzell
Darren Appleton	8 : 4	Imran Majid
James Kay	8 : 7	Tony Drago
Mark Gray	8 : 3	Phil Burford
Jayson Shaw	8 : 7	Raj Hundal
Scott Higgins	8 : 7	Ben Moore

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE PRO CUP
THE QUARTER FINALS
Daryl Peach	9 : 8	Michael Valentine
Darren Appleton	9 : 6	Karl Boyes
Mark Gray	9 : 2	James Kay
Jayson Shaw	9 : 3	Scott Higgins

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE PRO CUP
THE SEMI FINALS
Darren Appleton	9 : 8	Daryl Peach
Mark Gray	9 : 8	Jayson Shaw

THE GB9 LONDON CLASSIC
THE PRO CUP
THE FINAL
Mark Gray	9 : 6	Darren Appleton

Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk

View more photos from this event at www.belleza-photography.co.uk

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