Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource

GB9 Northern Masters
Rileys American Pool and Snooker - Stretford
Stretford Arndale Centre
Chester Road, Stretford
MANCHESTER
Greater Manchester
England
www.rileysltd.com
www.gb9balltour.com

Fri/Sat/Sun 29/30/31 August 2008

Stretford Rileys General Manager Michelle Law (L) congratulates winner Darren Appleton.
Click the picture to download the full size photograph. (2Mb)
Appleton stops Majid's run by winning GB9 Northern Masters

Imran Majid's incredible winning streak of 29 consecutive matches including 5 tournament championship victories has come to an end in Manchester at the hands of Darren Appleton, former English 8 Ball Pool champion in the semi-final stage of the Main Event.

Appleton then beat reigning World Pool Champion Daryl Peach in the final, and appeared particularly determined throughout the tournament, taking extra time at the start of every rack, planning the route of every run-out.

This was the first event that the GB9 have implemented the higher rack position - with the nine-ball on the foot spot, forcing many players to adopt a more powerful break putting a stop to the virtually guaranteed "wing-ball-on-the-break" that came with the old "tapped" rack position.

Of the final against Peach, Appleton said, "We broke pretty well, but it wasn't always coming out good, so there was a lot of safety", "it's been a long day and we didn't really focus as good as we can do, but I probably played a little bit better than him, on the day, and that was the difference I think in the end."

"It's a frustrating game sometimes, you can play very well and lose, and you can play average and win."

Appleton paid tribute to semi-finalist Imran Majid saying, "to beat Imran in the semi's was a massive win. I felt a lot of pressure to beat him because obviously he hasn't lost this year, so that was a massive thing".

"Read More..." for the details.

The fabulous table fitters finished recovering the tables minutes before the players arrived!

The fabulous Phuong Pham models the official 2009 season GB9 Ball Tour shirt.

You won't be able to miss the new referee at the next GB9 event in Mansfield!
Unlike the rest of Europe which takes a summer break from pool, (even some of the warehouses and manufacturers take a six week break from production) the British pool season is a relentless twelve month affair, possibly due to the unpredictable nature of our weather.

The GB9 Ball Tour forges ahead with it's fifth event, the Northern Masters at Manchester, hosted by Rileys American Pool and Snooker Clubs - Europe's largest operator of pool, snooker and poker clubs.

Each event consists of three individual tournaments, the 96 player "Challenge Cup" - the division for players attempting to gain promotion, the 32 player "Pro Cup" - for the elite top 32 national ranked players, and the 128 player "Main Event" - featuring the full field of 128 players from both divisions.

All matches are single elimination, race-to-nine, except the finals which are race-to-eleven, and these events are regularly held in clubs with only 16 tables. Matches start late on Friday afternoon and on Sunday evening the Main Event final is over by 9.30pm.

As you can imagine, the smooth running of the event is a thing to behold, precise timing and superb organisation skills enables all 254 matches to run like clockwork, and the use of the "Tapping Mat" speeds the racking process whilst preventing disputes.

GB9 players showing off their medals from the recent European Championships.

GB9 Northern Masters winner, Scotland's Jayson Shaw (R), presented with his trophy
by tour sponsor The Pro Shop's manager Andrew Watts.
It's a Shaw thing!

Proud Scotsman Jayson Shaw has managed to win the GB9 Northern Masters Pro Cup at only his second attempt. On his route to the final he beat former Pro Cup champion and current number 2 ranked European player Imran Majid in the first round of the UK's elite player event.

In the final, the youngster from Glasgow toppled the Euro Tour number one ranked player Mark Gray with an 11-8 score - I don't think we've seen the last of this young player.

Shaw actually missed the start of the tour, and has managed to get a reserve spot filling the vacancy due to Tony Drago having to attend the 2008 World Snooker Shanghai Masters Qualifying - and Shaw certainly made the most of the opportunity. Jayson plans to join the GB9 Tour next year, but ironically he will have to enter the Challenge Cup division to gain promotion to the Pro Cup that he's just won!

In an interview after the final Shaw was asked if there was anyone on the tour that he feared, he replied, "When I'm playing I don't really fear anybody, but to be honest with you, there could be easier draws, I'd rather play someone instead of Imran who has won the last four events" - he also admitted to practicing 5 hours every day, thanks to his sponsors The New Archway snooker club in Glasgow.

Northern Masters Challenge Cup winner Christopher Robson (L) receiving his trophy
from Big Dave Knight, the Editor at www.Pro9.co.uk - The European Pool Player Resource
No surprise as Robson wins second consecutive Challenge Cup

Chris Robson was regarded as the underdog in the final at the last event, but he proved himself to be a bit of a giant-killer with his win over Scott Higgins, and once again he has shown that he's made of stern stuff with a thrilling 11-10 win over London's David Walsh.

In fact, Walsh was the only player to take Robson to the hill at this event, and Walsh and Robson now sit side-by-side on the Challenge Cup rankings at 3rd and 4th respectively, both in with a fair chance of topping the end-of-season rankings.

All will depend on the final event of the season, the GB9 British Grand Prix to be held at Rileys American Pool and Snooker Club, in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire on 19 September 2008.

The colourful baize battlefield saw plenty of action at the GB9 Northern Masters

Stretford Rileys General Manager Michelle Law congratulates Darren Appleton!
Click the picture to download the full size photograph. (2Mb)

THE STATS

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE LAST 32
Imran Majid	9 : 5	Chris Cowie
Pat Holtz	9 : 6	Kevin Uzzell
David Jack	9 : 7	Andy Worthington
James Kay	9 : 5	Jonny Cooper
Mark Gray	9 : 8	Phil Burford
Stewart Colclough	9 : 4	Mike Rogers
Adam Clarke	9 : 8	Andy Barnett
Darren Appleton	9 : 2	Thomas Ainsworth-Smith
Michael Valentine	9 : 5	Damian Overton
Stephen Capaldi	9 : 4	Damian Massey
Christopher Robson	9 : 7	Craig Osborne
Daryl Peach	9 : 8	Adam Benn-Smith
Scott Higgins	9 : 8	Martin Chapman
Brad Parker	9 : 7	Jonathan Mathers
Karl Boyes	9 : 6	Andy Appleton
Jon Davies	9 : 6	Douglas Isaac

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE LAST 16
Imran Majid	9 : 8	Pat Holtz
David Jack	9 : 7	James Kay
Mark Gray	9 : 5	Stewart Colclough
Darren Appleton	9 : 3	Adam Clarke
Michael Valentine	9 : 4	Stephen Capaldi
Daryl Peach	9 : 8	Christopher Robson
Brad Parker	9 : 6	Scott Higgins
Karl Boyes	9 : 5	Jon Davies

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE QUARTER FINALS
Imran Majid	9 : 8	David Jack
Darren Appleton	9 : 3	Mark Gray
Daryl Peach	9 : 8	Michael Valentine
Karl Boyes	9 : 7	Brad Parker

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE SEMI FINALS
Darren Appleton	9 : 7	Imran Majid
Daryl Peach	9 : 1	Karl Boyes

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT
THE FINAL
Darren Appleton	11 : 7	Daryl Peach

~~~ooo~~~

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE LAST 32
Jimmy Carney	9 : 4	Thomas Ainsworth-Smith
Chris Cowie	9 : 5	Craig Dixon
Christopher Robson	9 : 5	Jonny Cooper
Mark Hughes	9 : 7	Neil Jenkins
Martin Chapman	9 : 6	Paul Edwards
Tony Burton	9 : 7	Dharam Singh
Ben Moore	9 :7	Mark McDonald
David McCarthy	9 : 6	Andy Barnett
David Walsh	9 : 6	Jack Triggs
Adam Jackson	9 : 7	Chun Hao Man
Damian Massey	9 : 4	Stephen Folan
Andy Nicholson	9 : 6	Gary Thompson
Andrew Morris	9 : 6	Scott Higgins
Chris Buckmaster	9 : 5	Jason Howard
Liam Wilson	9 : 8	Kevin Simpson
Brad Parker	9 : 0	Adam Collins

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE LAST 16
Jimmy Carney	9 : 4	Chris Cowie
Christopher Robson	9 : 0	Mark Hughes
Tony Burton	9 : 4	Martin Chapman
Ben Moore	9 : 5	David McCarthy
David Walsh	9 : 3	Adam Jackson
Andy Nicholson	9 : 5	Damian Massey
Chris Buckmaster	9 : 7	Andrew Morris
Brad Parker	9 : 7	Liam Wilson

THE GB9 NORTHEN MASTERS
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE QUARTER FINALS
Chris Robson	9 : 7	James Carney
Tony Burton	9 : 8	Ben Moore
David Walsh	9 : 7	Andy Nicholson
Bradley Parker	9 : 3	Chris Buckmaster

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE SEMI FINALS
Cristopher Robson	9 : 6	Tony Burton
David Walsh	9 : 4	Bradley Parker

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE CHALLENGE CUP
THE FINAL
Christopher Robson	11 : 10	David Walsh

~~~ooo~~~

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE PRO CUP
THE LAST 32
Phil Burford	9 : 0	Walkover
Pat Holtz	9 : 2	Stephen Capaldi
Craig Osborne	9 : 6	Adam Clarke
Gareth Esprite	9 : 0	Walkover
Jayson Shaw	9 : 4	Imran Majid
Andy Worthington	9 : 7	Michael Valentine
Richard Jones	9 : 5	David Jack
Kevin Uzzell	9 : 0	Walkover
Alan Millership	9 : 6	Jonathan Mathers
Karl Boyes	9 : 0	Walkover
Mark Gray	9 : 2	Mike Rogers
James Kay	9 : 4	Gordon Bain
Daryl Peach	9 : 1	Adam Benn Smith
Stewart Colclough	9 : 4	Paul Williams
Damian Overton	9 : 8	Matt Lawrenson
Sarren Appleton	9 : 2	Sam Gibson

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE PRO CUP
THE LAST 16
Phil Burford	9 : 8	Pat Holtz
Craig Osborne	9 : 5	Gareth Esprit
Jayson Shaw	9 : 6	Andy Worthington
Kevin Uzzell	9 : 5	Richard Jones
Karl Boyes	9 : 7	Alan Millership
Mark Gray	9 : 7	James Kay
Stewart Colclough	9 : 4	Daryl Peach
Damian Overton	9 : 5	Darren Appleton

THE GB9 NORTHERN MASTERS
THE PRO CUP
THE QUARTER FINALS
Craig Osborne	9 : 8	Phil Burford
Jayson Shaw	9 : 4	Kevin Uzzell
Mark Gray	9 : 4	Karl Boyes
Stewart Colclough	9 : 4	Damian Overton