Tourneys
Topic: ** French Euro Tour **

Fantastic performance Craig, especially considering you lost your first game!

So, who won?

Niels beat Craig 9-2.

Fantastic tournament Craig, well done. Couple of loose shots and a lot of bad rolls in the final but you should be massively proud overall. Losing your first match and then to get to the final......amazing. Big respect.

yep well done ozz ,congrats to niels

Well played Craig you've had a great tournament

Great performance fella!

Must be coming to Nottingham that hepls?

well done ozzie
congrats neils

cheers guys, just in hotel lobby reflecting....
didnt give Neils a game in the final really, disappointed obviously but at the same time still a bit bemused by the fact that i was there in the first place.....

after losing first match 9-1! on thursday i was ready to jack it all in, and i am serious too, im not sure i have felt that low after a game of pool before, just hated the game - the luck that can go against you, the big pockets that accept missed balls, and then bad rolls when your opponent misses.... i was just done with it. lol

missus gave me a telling off by text message, stumbled through next match giggling with Mike and Adam watching on TV and then the rest is history. Played a few matches back to back and was able to get some fluidity, felt like i couldnt really miss again after that.

in final, its strange cos i think i wanted to enjoy it first, and win 2nd? whereas Neils wanted to rip my head off! - next time i will be more focussed.

coaching required for me when i get back, Alan Bell back in UK so will be working with him again to just feel more solid at the table.....

over n out for now... cheers everyone.....

Mr Buzz - you know the script, cant leave this without saying thanks to you and also to Phil my number 1 fan! lol

what a character....

no need for a coach, all in your head, waste of money if you ask me ossie

good result over the past week well done

ozzie first of all congrats on reachin a major final no body can argue you deserve this your a quality player but more importantly like mark gray before you your a top quality guy so just by gettin there is a major achievement. you say you thought about givin up surely this proves you shouldnt especially as you aint a full time pro you have too much to offer the game to give up you like mark IMO are the epitomy of the game you dont whinge when you lose and dont bad mouth people you just accept the hand your dealt and get on with it and you dont blow your own trumpet when you win and that is what a good pro should be like.
nice people can get there in the end keep goin fella

I think this is a great achievement for someone who doesn't do this for a living. I have not met you properly Craig but I know from others that you are a top bloke and so you definitely should not quit this game.

Don't agree with adolf re coaching. I think even if a coach can show you ne aspect where you might add 5% improvement to your game it's worth it.

Ossie.....Always your number one fan mate, so proud of you, you deserved to be there after the fighting spirit you showed! I'm kind of glad you lost in the final to keep the fighting spirit going and the want/need to win next time......

I must have text over 100 times to people telling them how you was doing, lets get this sponsership sorted next!!!

Great work buddy......I'm not gay but I do love ya to bits! Well done Mr Osborne!!!!

Congratulations Craig, I am sure your result is more important to you than winning was to Neils.
Getting into the last 32 of the Eurotour is hard enough but getting to the final is something to be really proud of and there are not too many people who achieve that.

Thanks again for the great comments, its really nice to be held in the same regards as the Granite as i totally agree with the views on him as a player and as a top bloke.

Jaymo - lovely mate, just lovely

Peter - Wrong, all i could think about all the way home was why didnt I have that trophy with me! lol

If Alan had of been there he would have made sure i was right mentally, i slipped out of focus in the 90 minutes between beating Jungo and waiting for the final, but it was all sub-concious. I didnt realise it was happening otherwise i would have not missed the balls i did etc...

its all ifs and buts really, had i have taken my chances score would have been 7-4 to me or 6-5 to me after 11 racks. instead, ive lost 2-9. Thats the mental side that still needs a little work on the international stage, its difficult when you work full time cos its just a game & a hobby to me, if it was a profession it would be different i think. I wouldnt have to think about focussing and treating it professionally 24/7, thats just the way it would be automatically, it would have to be!.. Its that kind of focus that i see in Darren Appleton in every match, for me he is the player all brits should watch if they want to succeed in this sport. he gets frustrated at times but hes only human - best all round game at the mo IMO.

I have learned alot watching him, more so than any other brit and thats no disrespect to any player, its simply paying respect to what Darren has done in a short space of time and his dedication to the sport and improving his game.

anyway, onwards an upwards to the next event. well done all the brits again this event.

Richard Jones getting ever closer as well, dont be surprised if he is the next finalist on a big stage either, Michael Valentine also had a terrific event and Adam did well at the bakery! 25 euros in one sitting, in a bakery! lol what a man!

Ossie - feet on the ground, stil doesnt think he played that well to be honest (mental block), and defo pleased to have his coach back in UK!

unlucky to my room mate too - Chris Melling, playing awesome in the whole event - just lost to Neils 9-8 after coming up dry in the last rack. if not, coulda been all brit final again as he was well on form!....

bad luck mate...

well done craig great event take the positives and not the negatives..just learn from the experience in the final and next time it will hold you in good stead ..

you improved alot in last 2 years mentally and thats never a bad thing .. just niels experience was the key in the final.. but to lose your first match and get to final great achievement..

well done to rest of lads richard was playing some good stuff ,mickey valentine always a tough player to beat..

see u all at gb9 buxton

Darren Appleton...