Rileys American Pool and Snooker - Croydon, Frith Road
1st Floor
63 Frith Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR0 1TB
Telephone: 020 8649 7788
www.gb9balltour.com
www.rileysltd.com
Over 70 photos by our guest photographer Gavin Morris - AVAILABLE NOW!!!
Friday-Sunday 28-30 March 2008
2008 GB9 Southern Masters Pro Cup finalists Kevin Uzzell and Tony Drago.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
Britain's biggest and best 9 ball tour ever!
Champions, challengers and fans all enjoyed another fantastic GB9 Ball Tour of non-stop action, this time it was the Southern Masters in Croydon, and it was a weekend full of shock exits for the 128 player field as the pool stars fell to the diamonds-in-the-rough.
Reigning EuroTour No.1 Mark Gray exited the Southern Masters Pro Cup event in the first round after a 9-6 loss to relative newcomer Alan Millership from Reading, and reigning World Champion Daryl Peach also fell at the first hurdle with a 9-6 victory for rising star Neil Raybone.
Both players faired better when playing in the Main Event which was whittled down from a field of 128 players to the Last 32 Round which got underway on the Sunday, and Pro9 updated the results round-by-round from this prestigious stage of the event.
"Read More..." for the details.
The ups and downs of the tour's No.1 player!
Imran Majid appears to be making an early bid for domination of the GB9 Ball Tour as he has won three out of the four tournaments so far, netting himself a pretty penny and a clutch of trophies.
In the GB9 Pro Cup event, Majid was penalised for a late attendance and had to forfeit a three rack start to his first round opponent, Adam Clarke. Majid said he was always going to be "playing catch-up" from the start and it didn't help matters when Clarke broke and dished the first rack, and the 4-0 lead in the race-to-9 alternate break format event proved too much to overcome.
Despite this unsettling turn of events he managed to make up for it with an impressive win in the GB9 Southern Masters Main Event.
His opponent in the final was one of his best friend's and practice partner from their home club, Rileys Victoria, dubbed "The Home of the Champions" - Yes, it was the outspoken Raj Hundal.
Despite the close result (11-9) it was a good natured final in which both players chatted and joked with each other and the audience, and afterwards, Raj, true to form, had plenty to say.
"I think I played good this weekend. In the final it was touch and go, it could have gone either way, I made a few mistakes, I've got a new stick in my hands you know I'm not 100% too sure on some shots like the delicate shots."
"Imran's playing good, he always plays solid, but he had the cut-break down, he plays the cut-brakes good, he cut-breaks me three to one, I've not much experience with that cut-break, I haven't really played on the EuroTour, Imran, he's dialed in with that.
"Me, I like to get up and hit 'em! I'm not saying he can't hit them but he just definitely cut break's better than me. I'd like to see one of these tournaments where you have to get up and hit 'em!"
It's well known that Hundal has never been a big fan of the alternate break format and prefers tournaments where he can run "packs" in tournaments (break and dish consecutlive racks without his opponent ever visiting the table).
"Let's get that big break back into this game - then you'll see something!"
It has to be said that the difference in breaking style was clear for all to see, Raj's break was announced by an earsplitting thunderclap followed by a beautiful riot of colour flying around the table at break-neck speed - but it wasn't without control... More often than not, the white would settle mid-table just as intended but Majid edged him slightly on percentage of shots made.
Majid's break was a far less spectacular affair, but that's not to say it was in any way less skillful as all breaks on this tour need to score three points or else be penalised. 1 point is awarded for each ball potted, and 1 point is given for each ball that passes the head string.
Many players utilising the more gentle cut-break can fall foul of the three-point requirement, but this was never the case with Majid's break which was a more solid contact, the perfectly studied and practiced tool of a master cueman.
When asked about his use of the cut-break, he said, "It's not against the rules, I'm scoring my three-points and I'm getting a lot of shots on the first ball, I think it works a treat on this type of equipment, so I'll stick with it - it's working!"
"I'm just playing my game, I've had some very tough matches today, but I've played well and won my third tournament in a row."
Paul Medati in action at the GB9 Southern Masters.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
You are never to old apparently
How old is too old? Well, it looks like you're never too old!
We all know that Efren Reyes has managed to stay competitive at pool well into his fifties, but it looks like he may even have another decade of dominance available to him as there's a player on the GB9 Ball Tour who is well into his sixties, and doing rather well thank you very much!
Yes, it's Paul Medati, and I'm sure he won't mind me telling you he's only months away from his 65th birthday.
Surely he can't still be a competitive challenge? Well, think again... When I spoke to him he was in the Quarter-Finals of the 128 player Main Event.
When you look at the other seven players that progressed to this level of the event, players like: Imran Majid, Andy Worthington, Darren Appleton, Kevin Uzzell, Raj Hundal, James Kay and Michael Valentine - it puts this remarkable achievement into perspective.
Former Mosconi Cup player Andy Richardson playing on the GB9 Ball Tour.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
Pro9 invites guest photographer
Here at www.Pro9.co.uk we're constantly trying to improve the level of service we provide, and we try to surprise you all a bit too - with this in mind, this week, we employed the services of our first ever guest photographer, known simply as Gavin.
Please visit our PoolPhotos website at PhotoBox to see some of his truly stunning work, and if you'd like to buy some photos we'd be encouraged to invite more guest photographers in the future.
GB9 Southern Masters Semi-Finals draws a big crowd of spectators.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
Stop the clocks............!!!
Oh no, disaster strikes for some players at the GB9 Ball Tour after battling for two long days to qualify for the final stages, only to miss their matches on the final day because they forgot to advance their clocks to compensate for the official start of British Summer Time.
"Time waits for no man" was the most apt of phrases as David Walsh, Gareth Steele and Mike Rogers were all "scratched" from the final stages of the GB9 Ball Tour Southern Masters for late arrival at their matches, despite an announcement reminding players about the time change the previous night.
Chris Buckmaster in action at the 2008 GB9 Southern Masters.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
Will they all be doing this next time?
Kevin Uzzell got to the final of the GB9 Pro Cup event, but he had a shock waiting for him on the morning of the final day's play in the GB9 Main Event. Just before he needed to play he discovered that the tips on his cues were inexplicably soaking wet - his best guess was that he must have stood his cue case in a puddle somewhere, perhaps at the bar.
Whatever the cause, an immediate remedy was needed, and with little time before his match he darted into the washroom and was spotted spinning the wet ends of his shafts under the hot air hand-dryer.
He must have been satisfied with the result as he went on to win his match with a whopping 9-1 score - I just hope this doesn't catch on or there'll be long queues for the hand dryers!
Thomas Ainsworth-Smith on his way to his second GB9 trophy of the season.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
2008 GB9 Southern Masters Champion Imran Majid with Tournament Director Shirley Ang.
Photo by Gavin Morris.
Click the picture to visit the official website
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 2 | Martin Chapman |
Damian Massey | 9 : 7 | Aslam Abubaker |
Stephen Capaldi | 9 : 2 | Tony Burton |
Andy Worthington | 9 : 4 | Gary Houston |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 5 | Karl Boyes/p> |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 1 | Pat Holtz |
David Jack | 9 : 6 | Thomas Ainsworth-Smith |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 4 | Scott Higgins |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 2 | Phil Burford |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 5 | Tony Drago |
Andrew Nicholson | 9 : 4 | Dave McCarthy |
James Kay | 9 : 2 | Lee Rigby |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 5 | Adam Clarke |
Jonathan Mathers | 9 : 1 | David Carter |
Paul Medati | 9 : 5 | Andy Appleton |
Jason Howard | 9 : 7 | Jon Davies |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 4 | Damian Massey |
Andy Worthington | 9 : 4 | Stephen Capaldi |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 5 | Daryl Peach |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 3 | David Jack |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 7 | Craig Osborne |
James Kay | 9 : 7 | Andrew Nicholson |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 6 | Jonathan Mathers |
Paul Medati | 9 : 8 | Jason Howard |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 6 | Andy Worthington |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 4 | Kevin Uzzell |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 4 | James Kay |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 4 | Paul Medati |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 1 | Darren Appleton |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 5 | Michael Valentine |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Imran Majid | 11 : 9 | Raj Hundal |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Thomas Ainsworth-Smith | 9 : 5 | Louis Clarke |
Andrew Nicholson | 9 : 2 | Douglas Isaac |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 4 | Ben Moore |
Paul Medati | 9 : 2 | Liam Wilson |
Craig Dixon | 9 : 7 | David Walsh |
Jonny Cooper | 9 : 5 | Allen Lowe |
David Carter | 9 : 8 | Stuart Daff |
Simon Widlow | 9 : 1 | Dane Skiba |
Gareth Steele | 9 : 3 | Gary Houston |
Andy Appleton | 9 : 7 | Clarke Smith |
Neil Jenkins | 9 : 5 | Andrew Morris |
Paul Edwards | 9 : 7 | Dharam Singh |
Chris Buckmaster | 9 : 2 | Aslam Abubaker |
Andy Barnett | 9 : 6 | Tony David |
Kevin Simpson | 9 : 6 | Stephen Folan |
Brad Parker | 9 : 6 | Lynette Horsburgh |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Thomas Ainsworth-Smith | 9 : 3 | Andrew Nicholson |
Paul Medati | 9 : 2 | Scott Higgins |
Craig Dixon | 9 : 5 | Jonny Cooper |
Simon Widlo | 9 : 1 | David Carter |
Andy Appleton | 9 : 5 | Gareth Steele |
Neil Jenkins | 9 : 8 | Paul Edwards |
Andy Barnett | 9 : 5 | Chris Buckmaster |
Brad Parker | 9 : 7 | Kevin Simpson |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Tomas Ainsworth-Smith | 9 : 8 | Paul Medati |
Criag Dixon | 9 : 4 | Simon Widlo |
Neil Jenkins | 9 : 3 | Andy Appleton |
Andy Barnett | 9 : 7 | Brad Parker |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Thomas Ainsworth-Smith | 9 : 0 | Craig Dixon |
Neil Jenkins | 9 : 8 | Andy Barnett |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Thomas Ainsworth-Smith | 11 : 9 | Neil Jenkins |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Adam Clarke | 9 : 7 | Imran Majid |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 5 | James Taylor |
Gareth Esprit | 9 : 0 | walk-over |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 6 | Jonathan Mathers |
Alan Millership | 9 : 6 | Mark Gray |
Damian Overton | 9 : 0 | walk-over |
James Kay | 9 : 4 | Andy Worthington |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 5 | Stewart Colclough |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 4 | Paddy McLoughlin |
Pat Holtz | 9 : 8 | Mike Rogers |
Tony Drago | 9 : 4 | Lee Rigby |
Neil Raybone | 9 : 6 | Daryl Peach |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 8 | Paul Williams |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 2 | Adam Benn Smith |
David Jack | 9 : 5 | Andrew Richardson |
Phil Burford | 9 : 7 | Steve Capaldi |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 4 | Adam Clarke |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 1 | Gareth Esprit |
Alan Millership | 9 : 7 | Damian Overton |
James Kay | 9 : 5 | Craig Osborne |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 3 | Pat Holtz |
Tony Drago | 9 : 6 | Neil Raybone |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 2 | Michael Valentine |
Phil Burford | 9 : 3 | David Jack |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 5 | Raj Hundal |
James Kay | 9 : 7 | Alan Millership |
Tony Drago | 9 : 6 | Karl Boyes |
Phil Burford | 9 : 8 | Darren Appleton |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 5 | James Kay |
Tony Drago | 9 : 1 | Phil Burford |
THE GB9 SOUTHERN MASTERS | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Tony Drago | 11 : 8 | Kevin Uzzell |
The GB9 Tour, sponsored in it's inaugural year by Rileys Pool, Snooker and Poker Clubs, has drawn talent from the length and breadth of the country, who will be putting the final touches to their practice routines in readiness for what must be the toughest national tour in Europe.
The GB9 official match cloth is sponsored by Z9Billiard Cloth by Klaus Zobrekis, a new company with a new high tech cloth, designed after three years of intensive development, and aimed at the top end of the market for professional "worsted" pool/billiard cloth for American style tables.
