'uri' ); ?> Hill takes inaugural GB9 UK Open title

Hill takes inaugural GB9 UK Open title

A Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource Article

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Date: Thursday, December 05 2013 @ 03:14:38 UTC
Topic: GB9



THE GB9 UK OPEN
Park Inn by Radisson Hotel
Forgegate
Telford Centre
Shropshire
TF3 4NA
United Kingdom
www.gb9balltour.com - Facebook - Twitter

Monday & Tuesday 2-3 December 2013


Mick Hill, poised to shoot the winning 9 ball in the GB9 UK Open final match.
All photography ©Sam Bryant - used by Pro9 with permission.

Hill takes inaugural GB9 UK Open title

Mick Hill became the first ever winner of the GB9 UK Open on Tuesday, as he beat Phil Burford 11-7.

Hill recovered from a shaky start to clinch the title, in a final in which neither player really got going.

The event was at its best as it progressed onto the quarter-finals and a move to the main tables.

Burford comfortably dispatched of Shaun Storry 10-1 and Ruslan Chinahov advanced over Juan Carlos Exposito, winning six consecutive racks to romp to a 10-4 victory.

The best games of the round were undoubtedly on tables one and two.

Kev Simpson and Michael Valentine shared an 18-rack thriller, as Valentine just edged out Simpson to win 10-8. On the hill at 9-7, Valentine kissed off the nine ball after potting the eight and had to try to run the nine all the way up table. He missed, and Simpson stepped in to make it 9-8.

After a long exchange of safeties in the final rack, Simpson missed a straight 8 and Valentine finally clinched the match.



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Buckley looks down on the rack as he prepares to break.

Mick Hill and Benji Buckley’s match was even tighter, as the pair went hill-hill. The final rack epitomised the whole match, taking twists and turns aplenty, each player gaining and then relinquishing the advantage.


Benji Buckley in action at the GB9 UK Open.

A lax safety from Buckley gave Hill an opportunity. However, a lazy positional shot on the five meant no clear shot at the six and let Buckley back to the table. Buckley’s long pot on the six left him snookered on the seven though and Hill proceeded to clear up.

The drama continued into the semi-finals.


Phil Burford studies the table.

Burford raced into a 7-0 lead over Ruslan Chinahov and when the Russian scratched off the five, a whitewash looked all the more inevitable.

The Darlington man then went to the hill with a break and run. However, a dry break from Burford in the next rack allowed Chinahov to the table. He showed good character to run out and grabbed what looked like a consolation rack.


Ruslan Chinahov prepares to break the rack open.





He then cleared another table. 9-2. And another one. 9-3. Golden break. 9-4. Burford then missed a regulation nine for the match and the impossible began to look all the more probable. 9-5. Chinahov broke and ran. 9-6. Chinahov broke and ran again. 9-7.

His momentum was finally halted though, as he missed a three and Burford cleared up to clinch the game 10-7.


Michael Valentine shooting the 9 ball in his semi final match.

The other semi-final was just as thrilling, as the man with possibly the most appropriate name in world pool, Mick Hill, again went hill-hill.

Momentum in the final rack swung from player to player, again. Hill missed a bank shot on the one before Valentine scratched on the two. However, Hill overran the cue ball for position on the three. As a result, he had to hit the shot a lot harder than he would have wanted and the pocket rejected it.

Valentine couldn’t capitalise though and Hill secured his place in the final.


Runner-up, Phil Burford, tackling a tough shot in the final at Telford.

The final was, unfortunately, a much less exciting affair. It was a cautious start and neither player played with much fluency.

With Burford 4-1 up, a bad positional shot on the eight let Hill to the table. Hill made the most of his opportunity as he advanced to an 8-5 lead. Burford then missed his chance to impose himself, as he scratched off the four and Hill extended his lead.

A missed three by Hill did allow Burford to drag himself back within touching distance at 9-7. However, an illegal break allowed Hill to play a good safety and when Burford fouled, Hill made no mistakes. Hill then cleared up in the final rack to stutter over the line and win the final 11-7.









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