Upper Floors
Marshall House
4-13 St Nicholas Street
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
Great Britain
www.gb9balltour.com
www.rileysltd.com
Friday/Saturday/Sunday 11/12/13 July 2008
2008 GB9 Scarborough Cup Winner Imran Majid presented with his trophy
by Rileys Scarborough Manageress Kelly Jackson
Imran Majid wins GB9 Scarborough Cup Main Event!
Well, it doesn't happen often, but after watching the final of the GB9 Yorkshire Cup's main event it has to be said - I'm speechless!!! The best GB9 final ever! This match between Scott Higgins and Imran Majid had everything, including a massive comeback by Imran from 10-5 behind, an almost impossible task considering the alternate break format, but the "Maharaja" doggedly clawed his way back to take the title for an unbelievable 4th consecutive win.
To add a little spice to the pot, there was a huge "tweak" as Higgins missed a short and straight 5ball that would have taken him over the hill, and then in the final hill-hill match the spectators spotted a dry break, but neither player noticed.
Higgins still had his hand over his mouth in disbelief at his previous miss, and Majid had his back turned as he was collecting his playing cue, but the knowledgeable audience noticed that the break didn't score the requisite points!
"Read More..." for the details.
Points? Yes, the GB9 tour uses a points system on the break, and players need to score three points to avoid a dry break - let me explain why this is necessary.
The tour involves 3 tournaments, the whole 128 player field enters the Main Event, and the 96 man Challenge Cup is the event is for promotion into the 32 elite professional players in the Pro Cup. Each player is entitled to play in two of the events, and to fit all these matches into one weekend in clubs that only have under 20 tables takes a very professional feat of organisation.
It also demands optimum conditions, so the tour only uses brand new Z9 Billiard cloth on the finals tables, Aramith Pro Cup TV balls, and the tables are "tapped" using the EPBF "Fast Rack" - a rubber mat that has a template of holes to perfectly align some well-placed dimples into the cloth so that no triangle is needed to rack the balls - greatly reducing the time spent racking.
The resulting rack is tight every time as the balls roll into the small depressions for a perfect rack every time - so perfect in fact that the break can become quite consistent, and virtually encourages the softer, less spectacular cut-break.
To encourage the bigger break it was decided to adopt the EPBF's three point rule, that is, one point for each ball sunk on the break, and one point for each ball to enter the "kitchen" (the breaking area behind the headstring line on the table). Failure to meet this requirement results in a technical dry break and the table should be handed over to the opponent.
Higgins should have come to the table to play, but as neither player noticed, Majid continued to clear the table for the 11:10 win, and his incredible fourth consecutive victory in the main event.
There are only two of the six events remaining on the tour, both in the Midlands area - The GB9 Northern Masters in August, and The GB9 British Grand Prix in October.
Majid's domination of the GB9 Tour is incredible - the tour features the cream of British Snooker, English Pool and American Pool disciplines, celebrity players, Mosconi Cup players, money players, for goodness sake's it got the World 9 Ball Champion, the European #1 and #2! Next year there will be two players commuting from Norway to play on the toughest national tour in Europe (providing they qualify).
A Pro player can come along and dominate a regional tour or league, but not a tour of this strength in depth.
Odds for a "Grand Slam" by one player before the tour started would have been astronomical, one million to one, but now, all Majid has to do is what he has done before, two more times and history will be made.
Bring it on!
The impressive collection of 2008 GB9 Scarborough Cup trophies
Action from the final of the 2008 GB9 Scarborough Cup
2008 GB9 Scarborough Pro Cup Winner Daryl Peach presented with his cheque and trophy
by Rileys Scarborough Assistant Manager Dean Jeavons
Peach is back!!!
The old Peachy that we know and love is back with a vengance this time at the GB9 Yorkshire Cup, as he stamps his authority on the Pro Cup event in beautiful Scarborough, with a confident 11-4 win over 17 year old pool prodigy Phil Burford in the final.
2008 GB9 Scarborough Challenge Cup Winner Chris Robson presented with his cheque
by Simon Clarke from GB9 Tour sponsor White Horse Press Poole
Christopher Robson is Challenge Cup victor!
Chris Robson was the surprise winner at the GB9 Yorkshire Cup's Challenge Division event. Robson went into the final as the underdog to the more fancied Scott Higgins, but after a series of positional errors by his opponent that were duly punished by Robson, he was rewarded with the trophy for two days of consistently high quality pool.
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 8 | Chris Buckmaster |
Jayson Shaw | 9 : 8 | Pat Holtz |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 3 | Jayson Howard |
Karl Boyes | 9 : 6 | Jonathan Mathers |
Tony Burton | 9 : 4 | Chris Cowie |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 4 | Damian Massey |
Andrew Nicholson | 9 : 7 | Jon Davies |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 8 | Martin Chapman |
Philip Morgan | 9 : 8 | Darren Appleton |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 3 | Andy Appleton |
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 3 | Andy Barnett |
Mark Gray | 9 : 2 | Liam Wilson |
Damian Overton | 9 : 6 | James Kay |
Paul Medati | 9 : 5 | Dean Goddard |
Tony Drago | 9 : 2 | Brad Parker |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 8 | Phil Burford |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 7 | Jayson Shaw |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 5 | Karl Boyes |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 2 | Tony Burton |
Michael Velentine | 9 : 7 | Andrew Nicholson |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 6 | Phil Morgan |
Adam Benn Smith | 9 : 8 | Mark Gray |
Paul Medati | 9 : 8 | Damian Overton |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 2 | Tony Drago |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE QUARTER-FINALS | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 7 | Daryl Peach |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 7 | Michael Valentine |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 8 | Adam Benn Smith |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 7 | Paul Medati |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE SEMI-FINALS | ||
Imran Majid | 9 : 5 | Craig Osborne |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 4 | Raj Hundal |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE MAIN TOURNAMENT | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Imran Majid | 11 : 10 | Scott Higgins |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Jason Howard | 9 : 6 | Thomas Ainsworth-Smith |
Ben Moore | 9 : 4 | Simon Widlo |
Andy Appleton | 9 : 2 | Neil Cummins |
Damian Massey | 9 : 3 | Dave Simmonds |
David McCarthy | 9 : 4 | Gary Houstoun |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 1 | Andrew Warden |
Chris Cowie | 9 : 5 | Lynette Horsburgh |
Thomas Emes | 9 : 6 | David Nelson |
David Walsh | 9 : 6 | Mark Hughes |
Chris Buckmaster | 9 : 2 | Kevin Simpson |
Liam Wilson | 9 : 7 | Clark Smith |
Aslam Abubaker | 9 : 7 | Neil Jenkins |
Christopher Ronson | 9 : 5 | Tony Burton |
Jon Davies | 9 : 8 | Jonny Cooper |
Philip Morgan | 9 : 2 | Chun Hao Man |
Brad Parker | 9 : 4 | Andrew Morris |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Ben Moore | 9 : 8 | Jason Howard |
Andy Appleton | 9 : 5 | Damian Massey |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 7 | David McCarthy |
Thomas Emes | 9 : 7 | Chris Cowie |
Chris Buckmaster | 9 : 7 | David Walsh |
Liam Wilson | 9 : 7 | Aslam Abubaker |
Christopher Robson | 9 : 1 | Jon Davies |
Brad Parker | 9 : 6 | Phil Morgan |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Andy Appleton | 9 : 5 | Ben Moore |
Scott Higgins | 9 : 7 | Thomas Emes |
Chris Buckmaster | 9 : 7 | Liam Wilson |
Christopher Robson | 9 : 0 | Brad Parker |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Scott Higgins | 9 : 7 | Andy Appleton |
Christopher Robson | 9 : 4 | Chris Buckmaster |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE CHALLENGE CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Christopher Robson | 11 : 3 | Scott Higgins |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 32 | ||
Karl Boyes | 9 : 0 | Walk over |
Damian Overton | 9 : 3 | Neil Raybone |
Craig Osborne | 9 : 5 | Sam Gibson |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 6 | Mark Gray |
Imran Majid | 9 : 7 | Richard Jones |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 8 | Pat Holtz |
Mike Rogers | 9 : 8 | Jonathan Mathers |
Tony Drago | 9 : 2 | Andy Worthington |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 4 | Alan Millership |
Michael Valentine | 9 : 5 | Jayson Shaw |
Stephen Capaldi | 9 : 7 | Davey Jack |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 6 | James Taylor |
James Kay | 9 : 2 | Adam Benn Smith |
Paul Williams | 9 : 7 | Gareth Esprit |
Lee Rigby | 9 : 3 | Adam Clarke |
Phil Burford | 9 : 7 | Stephen Capaldi |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE LAST 16 | ||
Damian Overton | 9 : 8 | Karl Boyes |
Daryl Peach | 9 : 5 | Craig Osborne |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 8 | Imran Majid |
Tony Drago | 9 : 3 | Mike Rogers |
Darren Appleton | 9 : 3 | Mike Valentine |
Kevin Uzzell | 9 : 5 | Stephen Capaldi |
James Kay | 9 : 4 | Paul Williams |
Phil Burford | 9 : 8 | Lee Rigby |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE QUARTER FINALS | ||
Daryl Peach | 9 : 4 | Damian Overton |
Raj Hundal | 9 : 8 | Tony Drago |
Kevin Uzell | 9 : 3 | Darren Appleton |
Phil Burford | 9 : 7 | James Kay |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE SEMI FINALS | ||
Daryl Peach | 9 : 7 | Raj Hundal |
Phil Burford | 9 : 4 | Kevin Uzzell |
THE GB9 YORKSHIRE CUP | ||
THE PRO CUP | ||
THE FINAL | ||
Daryl Peach | 11 : 4 | Phil Burford |
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.