"Home of the Champions"
Rileys American Pool and Snooker - Victoria
16 Semley Place
VICTORIA
Greater London
SW1W 9QJ
Tel: 020 7259 9753
www.rileysltd.com
Thursday 27 March 2008
Yorkshire's Darren Appleton looking comfortable in his natural habitat - on a pool table.
Appleton proves too strong for challenger!
Darren Appleton romped away the victor in front of a privileged few that were "in the know" about this "Bag O' Sand Challenge" between the Yorkshireman and well known London personality So Shaw last night at Rileys Victoria.
The prestigious audience included pool legends Tony Drago, Imran Majid, Raj Hundal and many more, who turned out to see this 10-Ball match, straight race to 14, winner breaks format on the specially shimmed pockets of the Brunswick match table in London's "Home of the Champions".
Click on "Read More..." for the details.
The legendary "money match" table at Victoria.
Appleton entered the running as the big favourite "on paper" before the match - a top IPT player and full-time professional pool player with many year's seasoning, but he has been known to have a hiccup now and then.
Playing with a Predator 5K2 with 314-2 shaft and a milk-soaked and crushed ElkMaster tip topped with blue Master chalk, and breaking with a beautiful looking X-Breaker - Appleton had the advantage with weaponry too.
Shaw on one of his run-outs
Shaw on the other hand was using a more affordable playing cue having damaged a superior cue a while back. The "Cheetah" cue comes complete with a built-in extender in the butt!!! It's a £30 cue apparently with it's standard shaft, and some green Triangle chalk.
At least his borrowed break cue was a quality item - a BK2 with a original standard 314 shaft.
Despite this apparent mis-match in equipment, and the very one-sided scores, Shaw put up a very valiant effort, and the racks he did win were solid run-outs from very low numbered ball starts, with great shape and control throughout.
Appleton didn't give-up a lot of table time to the capable Londoner, and it's probably a good job too, although both players missed a couple of surprising shots, the general quality of play was very high.
Darren said, "It's nice to be playing, it's always nice to get a game, there's not so many in the UK, and I play better for money than I do in tournaments. You can practice for money matches, but you can get tired in tournaments - I kept it simple."
As I left the club to catch the last train home So and Darren were starting another match, this time it was to be 9-Ball, race to 8 for another £200 - that's the spirit!
THE BAG O' SAND CHALLENGE | ||
THE HOME OF THE CHAMPIONS | ||
RACK-BY-RACK | ||
Darren Appleton | 0 : 0 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 1 : 0 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 2 : 0 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 2 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 3 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 4 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 5 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 6 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 7 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 8 : 1 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 8 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 10 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 11 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 12 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 13 : 2 | So Shaw |
Darren Appleton | 14 : 2 | So Shaw |