The St Albans Hurricane Room
Unit 8 Verulam Industrial Estate
224 London Road
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 1JF
www.hurricaneroom.co.uk
www.t9b.co.uk
Saturday 2 November 2013
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Rollison - back with a bang!
St Albans Hurricane Room again played host for the second event of the Total9ball Amateur Series 2013/14. Players from all over the country competed for crucial ranking points towards the Mid and End of Series Grand Finals. In total 28 players battled for the T9B glassware at this event held on the 3rd November 2013, again Total9ball was pleased to see many new faces including James Dickel and Jamie Murray from Scotland and Luke O’ Connell from Cambridge as well as appreciated continued support from our regular players.
Matches kicked off at 10am after the draw was completed by Ramesh Gokhul. Luke Rollison was drawn against friends of his in both sides of the draw, Rollison hasn’t been playing much 9ball recently and his day didn’t start well as he was defeated by Scott Foley 7v5. Luke's opposition in the other half of the draw wasn’t any easier as Rich Main stepped up to try and end his day, this time Rollison got it right but only by the smallest of margins 7v6.
Mark Singleton having made the long journey from Rotherham enjoyed some good early wins 7v4 and 7v5 over tough opposition... Dave Evans and Chris Buckmaster respectively. Ramesh Gokhul only recently returned from a few months away in the USA, was again playing some impressive pool and two 7v5 (Chris Bryant and Mike Stanley) victories booked him a double place in round two. T9B founder Phil Wildman kicked his tournament off with two wins as well defeating Mark Hughes 7v5 and Neil Margossian 7v5. Wayne Rooke used this event as a come back event after months away from pool, he ran Terry Kearney close but ended up second best 7v5, Wayne however looked a lot stronger in his second match as he took out James Dickel of Scotland 7v3.
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After the first round of matches were completed the Break dish roll up raffle ticket sales closed. Ramesh Gokhul was drawn out first to make his attempt at the £131 dish. Ramesh made a few good recovery shots to keep the dish alive but was hampered with just three balls remaining and missed. This was bad news for Ramesh but great news for the roll up as T9B will now roll the pot up to a minimum of £160 for the next Amateur Series event, some prize for potting 9balls.
Back to the main competition and round two. After this round was complete the number of players with two lives remaining was reduced to just one player... Ramesh Gokhul was still in the hunt for the £530 jackpot. Ramesh registered win results against Jazz Bamotra 7v2 but was taken to hill-hill by Wayne Rooke, Ramesh kept composed to score a 7v6 result. Luke Rollison kept his tournament chances alive by ending Chris Buckmaster's event 7v4. While Mark Parker battled back from 4v0 to defeat Phil Wildman 7v5. The other players who battled through this round included Chris Bryant (7v2 Jazz Bamotra), Jamie Murray (7v6 Matt Hawthorne), Mark Singleton (7v3 Rich Main), Rattapol Sassmann (7v6 Terry Kearney) Robin Cripps (7v5 Geoff Windeatt) and Scott Foley (7v2 Rich Gormley).
Luke Rollison's form seemed to be improving as he knocked out Robin Cripps from Penzance, Cornwall 7v4. Ramesh kept his jackpot chances alive by the skin of his teeth overcoming a tricky match against Dean Mazerel 7v4 and then produced a 7v6 result over Scott Foley. Scott said after the match he had a chance at hill-hill but missed and Ramesh took his chance well. Rattapol Sassmann looked in tip top form as he eliminated Mark Parker 7v2, Phil Wildman produced the goods against Matt Hawthorn winning 7v4 but said after the match that there is a massive improvement in Matts game and off his current handicap it really won't be long before Matt goes deep in a T9B event. Mark Singleton showed he was there to do the business as he pounced on mistakes made by Dave Evans winning 7v1, while Chris Bryant a local St Albans player was turning heads as he rattled his way through matches playing with a house cue in this round he ended the hopes of a Scottish winner as he advance past Jamie Murray 7v3.
The Quarter Finals of the competition as a whole was next up, Luke Rollison was involved in some tough action as it took him 12 racks to defeat an in form Rattapol Sassmann 7v5. Ramesh still with two lives could and probably should have been out of both sides of the draw during this round of the event, Chris Bryant was his first opponent. Chris produced some of the most amazing pool I have seen, a mixture of luck and knowledge saw Bryant end Ramesh's Jackpot dreams 7v1, this match was amazing and full of excitement, I really wish it was streamed as so many times you would think Bryant was playing with a wand rather than a rack cue. Up next for Ramesh was Mark Singleton, Mark trailed through out most of the match but showed heart to join Ramesh on the hill, Mark did however miss two clear cut opportunities in the deciding rack but showed brilliant sportsmanship in defeat and took the positives from a good days pool after a while away for the American table. Phil Wildman converted a second win of the day over Neil Margossian this time 7v2. Neil said after he just couldn’t get it right against Wildman today but was very happy with the way he played in other matches during the event.
So just four players remained, Luke Rollison's job was to end Chris Bryant's event and avoid joining the list of quality players defeated by Bryant. Rollison used all his tournament experience to reach yet another T9B Final 7v5 but was full of praise for Bryant saying he was amazed at some of the shots Bryant played and pulled off under pressure with a rack cue with a deteriorating tip... Incredible. Well Done Chris a great streak of results in this event. Ramesh Gokhul raced into a 4v0 lead over Phil Wildman on the table next door, Phil battled back to level scores and eventually got the upper hand in the match taking a 6v5 lead, Phil however missed a dream chance to win the match letting Ramesh off the hook, Ramesh kept calm and continued potting balls to take the match 7v6.
So it was to a Gokhul v Rollison final and they weren’t in any mood to disappoint. The final was high class match with two top players involved. Rollison had played less games across the event and his only defeat was in his first match of the day so long gone in his memory. Ramesh on the other hand had his Jackpot chances dashed just a few matches ago and also had two very tough 7v6 wins to reach the final. Rollison ended up a 7v5 winner and took home another T9B glass trophy to add to his collection. Both players are quality and I'm sure will contest many more finals. If Rollison with no practice can win high class events like this while giving handicap headstarts, the question has to be asked with practice and a bit of sponsorship how far could he actually go?
Another fantastic event run by the T9B team, a massive thanks goes to our tournament director Nicole Hansen as she still does a great job keeping the events running smoothly as she enters her 7th month of pregnancy. Thanks to Kim Rowlett and Mark Parker for the brilliant photos taken during this event. To Hurricane Room St Albans for offering us the use of their club. I'm also pleased to announce all tables will be re-clothed on Monday as they continue to prove they have one of the best clubs in the country. Thanks also goes to our sponsors, Dynamic Billiards, Kamui, Sanctuary Cues and Ultimate Breakmasters.
The next Total9ball event will be The Cut (10ball) held at High Wycombe Hurricane Room on the 23rd November.
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About The Tour
The new Total9ball season is here and the Amateur Series is back for its 5th successive season and we must say it looks better than ever. During the close season T9B have secured a fantastic new sponsor of Dynamic Billiards. We are proud to have Dynamic Billiards on board and I’m sure you the players will enjoy the enhancements this sponsorship deal will add to an already brilliant series. Adding Dynamic Billiards to our superb current sponsors Hurricane Room, Kamui, Sanctuary Cues, Rileys and Ultimate Breakmasters shows The T9B Amateur Series is clearly the UK's biggest and best. Make sure your apart of this season, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Last season we used the 2x double chance format for a second season and again it worked very well with players gaining the maximum value money and getting the opportunity to play 9ball using one of the most fresh and exciting formats to ever hit UK 9Ball. This season we have decide to stick with the popular format and expect this season to be more popular than ever.
The T9B 2x Format
T9B double chance events seem to be the most popular format we use, we believe the reason behind this is because it offers unbeatable value, players are entered into the draw twice which means players can lose a match but still be the overall winner of the tournament, it guarantees each player a minimum of two tense knock-out matches and also means each entrance has the opportunity to get in the prize money twice. Feedback regarding these event has always been brilliant and therefore we feel using this format is the way to get the most players involved. Win all your matches and you can collect the Winners and Runners up prize money... a very nice days work. A beautiful glass trophy is awarded to the winner of each event and also to the overall winner of the rankings after the five event series.
Side Events
The break dish will continue as a roll up. The break dish roll up was first used at T9B events last season and as it wasn’t won the pot has now accrued to £100, this amount will increase each event until it is won. Raffle tickets will be sold at each event for £1 for 3 tickets. All money collected will be added to the pot. After the first round of matches two tickets will be drawn at random, the first player drawn will have the opportunity to break and dish the balls to take the pot. If unsuccessful the second player will get the opportunity, if the second player also fails the pot will roll over to the following event.
Rules
**A legal 3point break must be made
**If a player makes a Golden break or combos the 9ball into the pocket, the 9ball will be placed on its spot and the player will continue his turn.
The Series will begin on 28th September 2013 and will consist of ten 9ball double chance events , a mid season Grand Final and an end of season Grand Final. Each event will be held at St Albans Hurricane Room with matches beginning at 10am sharp. Players must understand that while they are in the tournament twice still there may not be much of a break in between games.
Event 1 – Saturday 28th September
Event 2 - Saturday 2nd November
Event 3 - Saturday 14th December
Event 4 - Saturday 22nd March 2014
Event 5 - Saturday 26th April 2014
Mid Season Final – Saturday 17th May 2014
Event 6 - Saturday 28th June 2014
Event 7 - Saturday 19th July 2014
Event 8 - Saturday 30th August 2014
Event 9 - Saturday 27th September 2014
Event 10 - Saturday 25th October 2014
GF Qualifier – Saturday 22nd November 2014
Grand Final – Saturday 6th December 2014
Event One details – Saturday 28th September
Races- Matches will be races to 7 plus handicap in all matches.
Membership - £25 for 2013 (Members save £5 entry per event)
Members Non members Handicap
Entry Fees - £40 £45 -4, -3 and -2 players
£30 £35 -1, 0 players
£25 £30 +1, +2 players
T9B this season will run a strict pay in advance only system. Any player who doesn’t pay in advance wont score any ranking points for the event. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!
HANDICAPS
Platinum Players -4 and -3
Gold Players -2
Silver Players -1
Bronze - 0, +1, +2
Handicaps will be changed by T9B if its felt a player is dominating events. Players who feel there handicap is to high can appeal to T9B for a reduction by email total9ball@hotmail.co.uk Total9ball decision is final.
Ranking Points
1 point per match won and 5 points for attendance (players tied on points at the end of the season will be separated by:-
1) The player who has attended the most events
2) Highest scoring event
3) Latest event points
Grand Final Qualifying CRITERIA (PLEASE READ)
Total Grand Final Spaces 24
***Top 8 players on the ranking list who have attended 5 or more events QUALIFY and are SEEDED into the LAST 16 of the event***
***Next 8 Players on the ranking list who have attended 5 or more events qualify for the PRELIM ROUND... the LAST 24 of the Grand Final***
***all other players who have attended 3 or more events are offered entry into the Qualifying event for the FINAL 8 SPACES, or there will be a silent auction for the 8 spaces. (if spaces remain at the qualifying day... places will be offered to players who have attended the most events)
Grand Final (Mid Season and End of Season players entry -
Members Non members Handicap
Entry Fees - £50 £55 -4, -3 and -2 players
£40 £45 -1, 0 players
£35 £40 +1,
Qualifying Event - £25 (successful qualifiers will get the £25 already paid off the above relevant entry fee)
Prize money will begin at the Quarter Final stage and will be announced once entry numbers are known.
This Series has truly unbeatable value.
Remember... IF YOU ENTER TWICE YOU CAN GET INTO THE PRIZE MONEY TWICE!!
All Matches will be Straight Knock-out
Races to - 7 plus Handicaps
Breaking - Alternate, 3 point Rule, Golden Breaks allowed
Entries are now being accepted please use one of the following options:-
1) post on the thread
2) email total9ball@hotmail.co.uk
3) send Phil a text on 07795535051
We advise you don’t delay your entry as previous events have filled in under 6 hours!!!!!
POTS
***BREAKDISH POT*** £100 currently more money added at E1
***JACKPOT*** £110 Currently more money added at E1
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