Tony Southern - World Champion
Barceló Blackpool Imperial Hotel
North Promenade
North Shore
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY1 2HB
United Kingdom
www.wepf.org
www.tonysouthern.co.uk
29 June - 10 July 2008
A personal report from WEPF World 8 Ball Champion - Tony Southern
I went to Blackpool to defend my title after not losing a match last year, and came down to earth with a bump, losing 3-0 to Craig Welsh (Wales), scraped past Andy Rigby (Wales) 3-2, before a couple of 3-0 wins put me back in the groove, following a close 3-2 with Chris Nadollek(England), I lost 3-1 to former winner Gary Swift (England), 3-0 to Frankie Gillen (England) so I went in the last 2 rounds of matches knowing I had to rely on players above me in the 11 person round robin group getting beat, just to come in the top 4, and make the semis.
Lucky for me 3 of the 4 above me lost their next to last match, which meant that my destiny was in my own hands and I knew that if I beat Kevin Flynn (Ireland) I would go above him on the head to head, but in the end I finished 3rd in the group, which as you can see from the WEPF website results page was very tight and 4 players tied for 4th and the last semi final qualifier was decided on count back and Andy Rigby scrapped through.
"Read More..." for the details.
Tony Southern
In the semis I extracted my revenge on Gary Swift, beating him 4-2 to set up what was an epic final against Frankie Gillen, I went 2-0, he pulled back to 2-2, I went 4-3 down, and pulled to 4-4, in the final frame I broke, but nothing potted, Frankie clears to Black and has a full length of the table 50-50 shot for the title, he missed and the 300 strong crowed ooohhed !!, I was left with all 7 balls on the table but 3 on the cushions, but I played the game of my life to pot and move balls with each of my first 3 shots, cleared to last ball and left my self awkward and had to play a screw shot with the rest, and screwed it perfect off the side cushion and back behind the black, sweetest shot of my life, and then just a nervy rolled black down the cush to retain my crown, and in it went and the crowd went wild.
What a match - never felt so thrilled!
Thanks
Tony Southern
www.tonysouthern.co.uk
Tony Southern with Frankie Gillen