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Leicester Annual 9 Ball Competition
Rack 'n' Roll sports bar
170 Belgrave Gate
Leicester
LE1 3XL
www.racknroll.co.uk - facebook - league republic

22 May 2016

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14th Annual Rack 'n' Roll 9 Ball Open
Report and photography by Keith Walkerdine

Sunday 22nd May 2016 the 14th Annual Rack N Roll took place at the Rack. There were four former open winners in attendance in Matt Potter, Craig Osborne, Benji Buckley and Kev Simpson all looking to add a second open title to their name. There were 40 paid entries for the tournament but only 38 players could attended on the day.

The format for the day was first round group stages in race to 5 alternate break with the top two from each of the eight groups to go through to the last 16 knockout stage, which would be a race to 7 winner breaks and race to 9 in the final. The groups would be decided on wins, rack difference, racks won and if all this was the same then on the head to head.

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There were some tough groups for players to progress from and here is a round of how the groups went.

Group 1 was contested by Matt Potter, Dave Evans, Andrew Bucknall, Nick Hampton & Graham Bonser. Dave Evans topped the group with 4 wins from 4. The 2nd place was more tightly contested as three players all finished on two wins. So it had to be decided on rack difference and Nick Hampton beat Andrew Bucknall & Matt Potter to second place.

Group 2 Was won by Alan Millership who also won 4 from 4. Second place in the group was Kris Kovacs with three wins. The rest of the group was Julian Roper, Boppa & Tony Gormley.

Group 3 was of the two groups of four. Ian McCormick topped the group with three wins from three and taking the second spot was Martyn Taylor with two wins. The others in the group were Robert Walker & Ziggy.

Group 4 was one of the toughest in the draw with Benji Buckley, Dave Hine, Al Coton, Kev Simpson & Heather Smith all battling it out. Kev Simpson won four out of four to top the group with an impressive 5-0 win over Benji on the way and only dropping 5 racks along the way. The second spot when down to the final group game with Benji & Al playing each other on two wins and whoever would win would move on to three wins and qualify. Benji took that spot with a 5-2 win.

Group 5 would see Tony Weafer qualify in top spot with 4 wins from 4. In second place was Mick Jones with 3 wins. The rest of the groups was Matthew Townsend, Fi Radomski & Aaron Hemmings.

Group 6 Robert Pendery topped the group with 4 wins from 4. In second place with 3 wins was Keith Walkerdine. The rest of the groups was Andy Carter, Sam Warry & Kellie Williamson.

Group 7 was our other group of 4. Ashik Nathwani was in first place and lost two racks in three games. Jilesh Sapra was in second place with 2 wins. Lee Brooks & Jan Ibrahim were the other players in the group.

Group 8 would see Craig Osborne finish in first place with 4 wins from 4 and only lost 3 racks in the group. Chris Parker finished 2ndplace with 3 wins. The rest of the group was Anand Mistry, Melvyn Chapman & Tem Hodgson.

So we were down to the last 16 knockout stage. The draw for this was winner of group v a runner up of a group and vice versa.

Only one place to start and that was with arguably the best game of the round with Craig Osborne taking on Nick Hampton. Nick got off to a flying start by going 6-0 up and on the hill with five break along the way. Craig though dug in and started a comeback by taking the next two racks. In rack 9 the game went back and forth but Nick found himself left with a tough 9 ball that he could either cut in the middle or double back in to the opposite middle. Nick Choose the cut but it knuckled in the pocket and allowing Craig to add another in his comeback. Craig then took the next three racks to level the game at 6-6. So were in the final rack and with some early safety play Craig got a chance to clear the table and he did just that in cool calm manner to take the game 7-6. The second game would see Ashik Nathwani against Benji Buckley. Ashik took a two rack lead but Benji hit back with three racks to take the lead 3-2. Ashik won the next rack to pull back level. Benji then took the next two racks to lead 5-3. Ashik then won the next three racks and to go on the hill 6-5. Benji pulled it back level to leave the game hill hill. Ashik got himself a great chance to win the game and was potting through the balls until in a cruel twist of fate as he jawed the 7 ball and it glided across the table and left Benji with a 3 ball clearance which he took out and the game 7-6. Up next was Dave Evans taking on Chris Parker. The first two racks were shared before Dave won the next two racks to lead 3-1. Chris took the next two racks to tie the game at 3 each. The next four racks were shared 1 at a time to keep the game tight at 5-5. The next two racks went the way of one player and the winner 7-5 in Dave Evans. Kev Simpson took on Jilesh Sapra in the next game. Kev took and early 2-0 lead before Jilesh pulled two back to level the game. Kev then kicked on by taking the next three racks to lead 5-2. Jilesh again rallied and won two racks to get back within one at 5-4. Kev though was not to be beaten and took the next two racks and the game 7-4. Martyn Taylor and Alan Millership were up next. Alan took a 3-0 lead before Martyn hit back with two rack to trail 3-2. Alan took three of the next four racks to lead 6-3. Martyn pulled another back but Alan got the rack he needed in the next to win the game 7-4. Up next was Tony Weafer taking on Keith Walkerdine. Keith took the first rack before Tony won the following two. Keith took the next to level up the game at 2-2. Tony then took the next rack but Keith then took the two following two racks to take the lead 4-3. Tony levelled it up in the next before Keith took another two racks to lead 6-4. In the next rack it went back and forth and Keith found himself with a good chance to win after potting a few good balls. He then left himself nearly touching the 9 ball in the middle of the table and with no chance of straight pot or safety he choose to bank the cue ball off the rail in front of him to come back and sink the 9 ball in to the middle pocket for the win. Robert Pendery took an Early 3-0 lead over Mick Jones before Mick hit back with winning two of the next three racks to trail 4-2. Robert or Penny as he known locally took the next three racks and the game 7-2. The final last 16 game would see Kris Kovacs take on Ian McCormick. Kris took the first rack before Ian took 6 racks on the bounce to go on the hill at 6-1. Kris tried to rally by taking a rack back but it would be no good as Ian took the next and the game 7-2.

We were now down to the quarter finals and up first we had Ian taking on Keith and Ian smashed Keith 7-0 in this one sided affair. Keith never looked in the game apart from one missed 9 ball as Ian just cruised through to the semi final. Alan took on Penny (Robert P) in the next game. The first four racks were shared between the two. The next four racks was the same story with them being shared and leaving the game at 4-4. Alan though then took the next three racks and the game 7-4. A mouth watering tie between Craig and Kev was next. Craig took the first rack but Kev then took the next 5 racks to lead 5-1. Craig then started to mount a comeback taking rack after rack to get within one rack at 5-4. Kev though was not going to let the comeback happen and took the next two racks to win the match 7-4. The final quarter final Match would see Dave take on Benji. Dave took a 2-0 lead but just as in his last 16 match Benji took the next three racks to lead 3-2. Dave levelled the game at 3-3 in the next. Benji won the next two racks to regain the lead 5-3 but Dave hit back with two racks to level the game once again. Benji then went and took the next two racks and claimed the game 7-5.

Semi final time and Ian took on Benji. Benji won the first three racks and having a break and run on the third rack. Ian then hit back with two of his own and with a break and run as well to trail 3-2. Benji then kicked on and took the next four racks and with two break and runs along the way to win the game 7-2. Alan and Kev were up next and the first four racks were shared to leave the game at 2-2. Alan won the next rack but with Kev in great form he took the next 5 racks and the game 7-3.

We were now down to the final and it was the group 4 winner and runner up meeting again in this race to 9 and both former open winners as well. Benji got off to a storming start with taking 6 racks and break and run thrown in to lead 6-0. With Benji playing well and Kev running a bit out of steam Kev clawed tow racks back. This was to be in vain though as Benji took the next 3 racks and the match 9-2.

I would like to say well done to Kev Simpson on making the final. A big congratulations to Benji Buckley on winning the open and becoming only the second two time winner alongside Ben Moore for the Annual Rack N Roll Open.

A massive thank you to all the players who played on the day and made it a great a day for me and all who attended. Thanks to the club and the Rack staff for all their help as well.

Hope to see you all again soon at the next event.

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