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Ulster Open 9 Ball Pool Championships
Ireland's American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour 2011
Shooters
Thomas Street
Dungannon
County Tyrone
Northern Ireland
www.rballsports.com

Saturday 26 February 2011

Stephen Johnson (Antrim) 2011 Ulster Open 9-Ball Pool Champion
Stephen Johnson Crowned 2011 Ulster 9-Ball Pool Champion

Last Saturday (26th February) in Shooters 9-Ball Pool Club Dungannon Co. Tyrone saw the first 9-Ball Pool Event in 2011 take place, organised by Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour when the Ulster Open 9-Ball Pool Championships took centre stage.

Stephen Johnson (Antrim) was crowned 2011 Ulster Open 9-Ball Champion with the Co. Antrim cueist being in tremendous form throughout the day defeating some fantastic players on route to victory.

Stephen has been crowned champion on many occasions over the years on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour, and once again the Antrim cueist has returned to winning ways. Adding the 2011 Ulster Open 9-Ball Championships to his other tournament victories on the tour, which are the All Ireland Over 40�s 9-Ball Champion, Ulster Over 40�s 9-Ball Champion, Co. Fermanagh Over 40�s 9-Ball Open Champion, Co. Down American 8-Ball Champion, Co. Donegal Open American 8-Ball Champion just to mention a few.

"Read More..." for the details.

ROUND ROBIN GROUPS

The tournament was played in a round robin format which seen Stephen progress to the knockout stages by finishing runner-up only losing one group match to Paddy McLaughlin (Down) on a 6-2 score-line with his other group victories coming against Coilean Massey (Antrim, 6-4), Ben Mc Moran (Tyrone, 6-5) and Adam McMackin (Tyrone, 6-5).

Other players to progress to the knockout stages from the round group format by winning there group was Paddy McLoughlin, Sean Judge, Jordan Gorman and Gary Johnson while the following players of Stephen Johnson, Paul Tierney, Daryl Beattie and Wayne Jess all progressed by finishing runner-up.

Four semi-finals LtoR: ---- Gary Johnson (Lisburn), Jordan Gorman (Belfast, runner-up), Stephen Johnson (Lisburn, winner) and Paddy McLaughlin (Warrantpoint).
�-FINALS

At the �-Finals stages Stephen produced another superb performance to claim a 9-3 victory over Sean Judge (Belfast) to reach the semi-finals.

The remaining �-Final matches seen Paddy McLoughlin (Warrantpoint) defeat Daryl Beattie (Sixmilecross) 9-5 while Gary Johnson (Lisburn) was in fabulous form to record a 9-6 victory over Wayne Jess (Bandbridge).

14 year old Jordan Gorman (Belfast) was making the headlines throughout the tournament which seen the young Belfast player top his group in the round robin format and followed that up with a brilliant 9-8 victory over the much experience Paul Tierney (Meath) in the �-Finals.

SEMI-FINALS

Two dazzling performances came in the semi-finals from 14 year old Jordan Gorman (Belfast) and Stephen Johnson (Lisburn) with both players progressing to the final of the first �GRAND-SLAM� event on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour for 2011.

Young Jordan Gorman (Belfast) followed his 9-8 �-final victory up with another fine display to run out a 9-5 winner over the inform Gary Johnson (Lisburn) to become the youngest player to reach a major final on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour.

The second semi-final seen Stephen Johnson (Antrim) put on a brilliant display to record a fabulous 9-6 victory over the twice All Ireland Open 9-Ball Champion Paddy McLoughlin (Down) when the Co. Antrim cueist raced into a 8-1 lead but Paddy pulled some racks back before Stephen ran out a 9-6 winner on this occasion to reach another final on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour.

14 year-old Jordan Gorman (runner-up) and Stephen Johnson (winner)
FINAL

The first final on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour for 2011 would see 14 year old Jordan Gorman (Belfast) and Stephen Johnson (Lisburn) going head to head in the �GRAND-SLAM� Final of the 2011 Ulster Open 9-Ball Championships.

As stated above Jordan Gorman (Belfast) made history in these Championships by becoming the youngest player to reach a major final on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour at just 14 years of age which is fantastic achievement in its own right.

On this occasion Stephen Johnson (Antrim) showed all his experience and skill which has won him many major titles down through the years to be crowned 2011 Ulster Open 9-Ball Champion defeating young Jordan Gorman on 9-3 score-line and goes straight into number one on Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour rankings with Jordan claiming the number 2 place.

Tournament Venue.

NEXT EVENT
Saturday 16th April 2011

The next 9-ball ranking tournament organised by Ireland�s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour will be the 2011 Connaught Open 9-Ball Championships played on Saturday 16th April 2011. Details of venue etc will be announced shortly.