Majid is 2007 King Of The Hill - The London 9 Ball Handicap Event

The King Of The Hill
Rileys American Pool and Snooker Club - Clapham
638-640 Wandsworth Road
Clapham
Greater London
SW8 3JW
Tel: 020 7498 0432
www.rileysltd.com
Over 50 photos from this event - to view and buy - available NOW!!!
Note: Photos only available for a limited period - once they're gone, they're gone!

Saturday-Sunday 22-23 December 2007

Imran Majid retains The 2007 King Of The Hill title at Clapham Rileys

Tournament Director and Pool Referee, Chris Billings, was in full flow at the 2007 King of the Hill tournament, as a gruelling format of 9 Ball Handicap matches played in round after round of group stages unfolded.

Among the participants battling it out at the newly refurbished Rileys club were local favourites Wayne Fryer (Clapham is his home club), and Ajay Parica, both were hoping that they would be the one to qualify and challenge last year's winner, and reigning "King of the Hill" Imran Majid but fate had other plans.

On the day it was Chris Timms, an occasional EuroTour player, who powered his way to the challenger's position, making great use of a skillfully controlled power break shot throughout the event, but ultimately the "never-missability" of Imran's game proved too much for the Walthamstow based player.

Click on "Read More..." for results, quotes and photos.

Majid, as the reigning King Of The Hill title holder only had to play the single final match (a race to five, best of 3 sets format final) but paid respect to his opponent afterwards saying,"I knew I had to play OK because he (Timms) plays well, I've seen him on the Euro Tour before."

BALL HANDICAPPING EXPLAINED

There was an interesting handicapping system used at this event, and it's a system that is mainly used in the London area, so here's a handy explanation for those less familiar with this concept.

Lesser ability players receive BONUS winning balls, imagine the five ball counting as an EXTRA nine ball. If the favourably handicapped player pots the five or the nine he wins, it's as simple as that.

The players are rated over the season of league matches, Imran plays of "-1" and Chris Timms is a "+5" making the difference between their handicaps "6". The complicated bit comes with applying the handicap, so a table is used, as follows:

1 = 8 ball
2 = 7 ball
3 = 6 ball
4 = 5 ball
5 = 5 + 8 balls
6 = 5 + 7 balls
7 = 4 + 6 balls
8 = 4 + 6 + 8 balls
9 = 3 + 5 + 7 balls

Timm's handicap was +5 and Imran's is -1, so the difference was 6 balls = the 5 and 7 balls. If Chris potted the 5, 7 or 9 ball with a legal shot anytime in the match, he would win that rack. (Obviously the "money" balls are re-spotted if the are made on the break).

Imran's strategy was, "to make a ball on the break every time or you are doomed" and he explained that even if you couldn't see the next ball, you at least had a chance to play a good tactical shot, you were still in control.

Imran seemed to control the first set from start to finish, conceding only two racks to Chris in the race to 5, but in the second set Chris won the first two racks putting Imran under a little pressure, but not enough as Imran ended the match with a 5-2 winning score.

"He missed a two ball and I didn't punish him", said Chris after the final, but apart from that Imran's potting and position was unbelievable and it's hard to believe anyone would have beaten him that night.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Imran Majid, who retains his title as 2007 King Of The Hill with a splendid display of skill.

Next year the format will be slightly different as Chris no longer runs the league at Victoria - and so this will be the last time the winner will be seeded to the final... Next year the reigning King Of The Hill will have to play in the opening rounds along with the other players.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Tyson Sherif.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Sean Dracup

2007 King Of The Hill player, Wayne Fryer.

BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP

It was great to see no less than three generations of the Fryer clan in attendance, with Pro Tour regular Wayne Fryer (pictured above) making a show in the final group stage, albeit at the expense of his nephew Jake Fryer (pictured below).

Jake, at 13 years old, was himself responsible for dispatching many of the adult players from this event, including the USA's Nigel Francis, in fact he only came unstuck when he met his uncle in the final qualifying round, but there'll be no hard feelings.

Jake's grandad, Tony Fryer, coaches both Jake and Wayne, and as they only live in Battersea, Clapham Rileys is their local club, so they are regular visitors.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Jake Fryer.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Larry Catapang.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Nigel Francis.

2007 King Of The Hill player, Ed Sumner.

2007 King Of The Hill Runner-Up, Chris Timms.

THANKS

Chris and Jo Billings

A very well run event as you would expect from Chris and Jo Billings, even though it was sad to see that Jo was in a wheelchair after breaking her ankle, perhaps a little ironically, after tripping at the hospital while visiting her daughter's baby.

Rileys Clapham

Those that hadn't seen the club since the refurbishment all agreed it was a great improvement and much brighter and airier than before. It wasn't a bad club before, but it's even better now with the open plan layout and luxurious furnishings, and thanks to the manager and staff who looked after us all so admirably.

The Players

Yes, even you, because there's no event without you guys - thanks for coming!