Rileys American Pool and Snooker - Barnsley
1st & 2nd Floor
47-51 Peel Street
BARNSLEY
South Yorkshire
S70 2RL
Tel: 01226 779 347
www.rileysltd.com
www.gb9balltour.com
www.gb9balltour.com/latest.htm - For the VERY LATEST RESULTS click here!
More photos from this event to view and buy *** AVAILABLE NOW ***
Fri/Sat/Sun 29/30/31 May 2009
GB9 Champion Karl Boyes with Rileys Barnsley General Manager George Vetter.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
The GB9 Paul Medati Trophy
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 envy, 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, and snooker legend Tony Drago to name but a few.
This was to be a very special GB9 event - renamed in commemoration of one of our own, Paul Medati, a well known and much liked face on the pro snooker circuit, he was swiftly taken from us by cancer last year, and during the weekend tour players raised £372 for MacMillan Cancer Support in recognition of the enormous difference they made to the quality of Paul's life and the support to the family during his final days.
Appropriately this tournament was hosted in one of our favourite and best equipped clubs, the third event of the season would also be crucial to players hoping to improve their ranking and possibly gain promotion to the elite player ranks for next season as these GB9 Tournaments have a three-tiered offering. An elite 32 player "Pro Cup", a 96 player "Challenge Cup", and a main event, "The Paul Medati Trophy" which pits all 128 players against each other, with a total prize fund exceeding £11,000.
These auspicious aspirations appear well justified as two new champions were crowned and a new record was achieved, along with some great gestures of sportsmanship.
"Read More..." for further details!
"We relish these great gestures of sportsmanship." - Lee Rigby, Chairman.
Imagine this... It's the main event, 128 players started and only four players remain, and you're one of them. None of the semi-finalists have won a main event before, so this is the biggest chance you'll ever get, and you're just one tense rack away from a spot in your first final.
This was the situation facing Kevin Uzzell and Adam Benn Smith in an absolutely nerve-wracking thriller as the score reached 8-8 in this all important race to 9 match.
Adam potted the long 1 ball, then shot the two and the three, but everyone watching was well aware that the four ball wouldn't be easy. It's route to the pocket was blocked, and everyone knew he had planned an attempt to pot the match winning nine ball early by forcing the four ball to nudge the nine into the corner pocket.
It wouldn't be easy though, as the two balls were lined up with the middle of the back rail, and the shot would have to be incredibly precise to achieve the very difficult "thin cut" necessary.
Not a good time to be nervous, but the immense pressure is unavoidable. The money, the match, the berth in the final, a chance at the title, it all hung on this shot - and this is exactly the sort of challenge that players love, why they practice such long hours, it's all for moments like these.
No one can know for sure what a player's inner voice says to help steel the nerves at times like these, but all players have their own personal techniques to help handle the pressure, and they have developed a mental toughness through hard experience too, but Smith's body language said it all after he successfully sank that nine ball into the corner bucket.
Ecstatic elation, joyous victory, and a whole host of other unnamed emotions raced through his body as he immediately started celebrating his win, slinging his cue on the table in sheer relief...
And the cue moved some balls...
And then an horrific realisation!
The balls had not stopped rolling from the winning shot when the cue splashed the remaining balls.
The referee had no choice in the matter.
"Foul".
Unbelievable. A classic schoolboy error, the premature celebration - and it's here that we saw the "great gesture of sportsmanship".
Kevin Uzzell would be as keen as anyone to earn a chance at the title - but with an exemplary display of selflessness and sporting etiquette, he waived his right to pursue the matter any further and congratulated Adam on a well-played stroke, wishing him well in the final.
In a game that appears to revel in a reputation gleaned from endless tales of skulduggery and hustling, a game that is apparently a "sign of a mis-spent youth" - it's always heart-warming to share truths like this.
It's not the first time that acts of sporting honour and integrity have been reported from UK 9 Ball Pool tournaments - and as this international discipline of pool continues to grow here, I'll be pleased to see this fairness in following the spirit of the rules continue apace.
The GB9 Paul Medati Trophy
Congratulations to Karl Boyes on a tremendous victory in the 128 Player Main Event at the GB9 Tournament in Barnsley.
This is Karl's first GB9 title - but it was noted by a few "in the know" players that Karl appeared to have bought his brilliant streak of good form back with him from his recent sucessful visit to Germany where he was playing some of the best pool in his career, ultimately reaching the Quarter-Final stage of the 240 player field of the best pool talent in Europe.
Like many of the best players in the world, Boyes' results improved throughout the event, despite a "touch and go" result in the Quarter Final (9-8 vs Craig Osborne) Boyes then spread his wings and appeared to cruise through the two final stages with strong victories over his two final opponents.
The Challenge Cup
Steve Folan was another new name added to the exclusive list of players with a GB9 title to their name.
Folan had just returned from a visit to Las Vegas where he had a couple of momentous victories in the Predator 10 Ball Open. After qualifying for the prestigious single elimination rounds he notched up a strong win over Raj Hundal, now playing for India, and then a notable victory over Shane Van Boening - unarguably the hottest ten ball player n the world at the moment!
Surfing this wave of confidence it's no wonder that Folan made short work of collecting his first GB9 Trophy.
The Pro Cup
Daryl Peach's name appears to have tenancy rights on The GB9 Pro Cup trophy, as this was the incredible third time he has won this title in the two short seasons that the GB9 tour has been running.
There were some notable absentees from the Pro Cup line-up, as Imran Majid, the hottest GB9 player of the 2008 season with a staggering set of results and trophies from the GB9 tour was committed to playing ten ball in Sarajevo.
Maltese snooker legend, and former Predator 10 ball Champion Tony Drago was absent due to a previous snooker engagement, and World 10 Ball Champion Darren Appleton was occupied in his "home from home" in Manila as he was invited to the Philippine 10 Ball Open.
With some of the top players absent due to these prior engagements, Peach, the reigning World 9 Ball Champion from Blackpool, must have known he had a good chance of striking gold again, and sure enough, this was his second Pro Cup win on the spin!
Karl Boyes, winner of the GB9 Paul Medati Trophy at Rileys Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Always the comedian, Karl strikes a fun pose for the camera at Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
A view of the tables at The GB9 Paul Medati Trophy at Rileys Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Mark Gray in action at the GB9 ranking event in Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Anthony Ginn and Steve Folan - the two finalists in The GB9 Challenge Cup.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Champion Stephen Folan with Rileys Barnsley General Manager George Vetter.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Steve celebrates receiving his first GB9 Trophy.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
The GB9 Pro Cup finalists - Daryl Peach and Scott Higgins.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Daryl Peach celebrates a return to form with a victory in The Pro Cup.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Champion Daryl Peach with George Vetter from Rileys Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
Daryl Peach with The GB9 Pro Cup.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Mark Gray | 9 : 3 | Adam Clarke |
Stephen Capaldi | 9 : 3 | Tony Burton |
Damian Overton | 9 : 2 | Mike Rogers |
James Kay | 9 : 4 | Stewart Colclough |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 4 | Liam Wilson |
Paul Edwards | 9 : 6 | Bradley Parker |
Kevin Hew | 9 : 6 | Chris Melling |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 6 | Clark Smith |
Luke Rollison | 9 : 6 | Michael Valentine |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 1 | Jonathan Mathers |
Damian Massey | 9 : 5 | Chris Cowie |
Phil Morgan | 9 : 8 | James Welch |
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 7 | Steven Petty |
Phil Burford | 9 : 6 | David McCarthy |
Andy Nicholson | 9 : 4 | Paul Williams |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 3 | Chris Buckmaster |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Mark Gray | 9 : 3 | Stephen Capaldi |
James Kay | 9 : 6 | Damian Overton |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 7 | Paul Edwards |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 5 | Kevin Hew |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 7 | Luke Rollison |
Damian Massey | 9 : 3 | Phil Morgan |
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 3 | Phil Burford |
Andy Nicholson | 9 : 7 | Daryl Peach |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
James Kay | 9 : 6 | Mark Gray |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 8 | Craig Osborne |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 4 | Damian Massey |
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 7 | Andy Nicholson |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 8 | Kevin Uzzell |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 3 | James Kay |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Karl Boyes | 11 : 5 | Adam Benn Smith |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
David Nelson | 8 : 0 | Dan Moore |
Steven Petty | 8 : 7 | Mark Collins |
Paul Edwards | 8 : 1 | Mark Hopgood |
Kevin Hew | 8 : 5 | John Wade |
Marc Johnson | 8 : 4 | Lee Hersey |
Gary Houstoun | 8 : 4 | Adam Benn Smith |
Stephen Folan | 8 : 2 | Chun Hao Man |
Dominic Clemens | 8 : 7 | Luke Rollison |
Oliver Ruuger | 8 : 2 | Andy Lester |
Anthony Ginn | 8 : 6 | Phil Wildman |
Phil Morgan | 8 : 6 | Clark Smith |
Neil Cummins | 8 : 7 | Bartek Czapski |
Gordon Bain | 8 : 1 | Scott Foley |
Jonny Cooper | 8 : 4 | Dave Simmons |
Neil Margossian | 8 : 3 | Mark Hughes |
Roy Kimberley | 8 : 7 | John Beesley |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Sten Petty | 8 : 3 | David Nelson |
Kevin Hew | 8 : 3 | Paul Edwards |
Marc Johnson | 8 : 5 | Gary Houstoun |
Stephen Folan | 8 : 5 | Dominic Clemens |
Anthony Ginn | 8 : 6 | Oliver Ruuger |
Phil Morgan | 8 : 5 | Neil Cummins |
Jonny Cooper | 8 : 7 | Gordon Bain |
Neil Margossian | 8 : 7 | Roy Kimberley |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Kevin Hew | 9 : 6 | Steven Petty |
Stehpne Folan | 9 : 3 | MArc Johnson |
Anthony Ginn | 9 : 3 | Phil Morgan |
Jonny Cooper | 9 : 5 | Neil Margossian |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Stephen Folan | 9 : 7 | Kevin Hew |
Anthony Ginn | 9 : 4 | Jonny Cooper |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Stephen Folan | 9 : 4 | Anthony Ginn |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Chris Buckmaster | 8 : 5 | Stephen Capaldi |
Phil Burford | 8 : 4 | James Carney |
Chris Cowie | 8 : 4 | Kevin Uzzell |
Ben Moore | 8 : 0 | Stewart Colclough |
Jonathan Mathers | 8 : 7 | Nigel Webb |
Karl Boyes | 8 : 0 | Andy Worthington |
Andy Nicholson | 8 : 5 | Simon Widlo |
Bradley Parker | 8 : 5 | Michael Valentine |
Paul Williams | 8 : 3 | Tony Burton |
Craig Osborne | 8 : 3 | Adam Clarke |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Daryl Peach | 8 : 4 | Chris Buckmaster |
Chris Cowie | 8 : 7 | Phil Burford |
Mark Gray | 8 : 6 | Ben Moore |
Karl Boyes | 8 : 4 | Jonathan Mathers |
Damian Overton | 8 : 5 | Andy Nicholson |
Scott Higgins | 8 : 1 | Dave Mackay |
Paul Williams | 8 : 5 | Bradley Parker |
James Kay | 8 : 4 | Craig Osborne |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Daryl Peach | 9 : 3 | Chris Cowie |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 1 | Mark Gray |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 4 | Damian Overton |
Paul Williams | 9 : 4 | James Kay |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Daryl Peach | 9 : 5 | Karl Boyes |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 7 | Paul Williams |
THE GB9 PAUL MEDATI TROPHY | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Daryl Peach | 9 : 2 | Scott Higgins |
The trophies & sponsor banners at The GB9 Paul Medati Trophy at Rileys Barnsley.
Photograph courtesy of Andrew Warden, www.belleza-photography.co.uk
