Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource

2016 GB9 MIDLANDS CLASSIC
Including the Pro Cup & Challenge Cup
Park Inn by Radisson Hotel
Forgegate
Telford Centre
Shropshire
TF3 4NA
United Kingdom
www.gb9balltour.com - Live-Stream - Live-Score - Facebook - Twitter
www.parkinn.co.uk

Friday - Sunday 29/30/31 January 2016

Click the image to view the larger photo - use "back" to return here.
The opening event of the 2016 season has concluded at the Park Inn hotel in Telford, with Mark Gray, Craig Osborne, Chris Fraser and Louis Callaghan walking away with the titles.

GRANITE DEMOLISHES HALL FOR THIRD TITLE

The 2016 Midlands Classic final was contested by two former winners of this event � 2014 champion Chris Hall, and 2009 and defending champion Mark Gray, with both looking at a second and third Midlands Classic title respectively.

Gray began the tournament in typically imperious form, whitewashing Craig Reynolds 9-0 to proceed to the next round. Kurtis Weaver was his next opponent and, whilst he provided a tougher test, Gray still marched on to the winners qualifying round with a 9-5 win. Fellow tour stalwart Andy Worthington was aiming to secure his place in the last 16, but Gray instead found a winning formula to take his rightful place in the single elimination stage wth a hard fought 9-7 win. In the last 16 it was Matthew Hyden looking to make a maiden quarter final at the expense of Gray, but the player they call Granite held strong with a 9-6 victory. Fellow professional Daryl Peach was looking for his first GB9 title since November 2014, but his run ended in the last 8 with Gray winning 9-5. Last up trying to pry the Midlands Classic title from Gray�s grasp was Imran Majid, but Gray�s steady form continued � another hard earned 9-6 win took him into the final and one match from completing a successful defence of his title.

Hall, winner of this event two years ago, Started in a similarly dominant manner to Gray. He successfully made his way into the winners qualifying round with 9-1 and 9-2 wins over Julian Roper and Bob Harris respectively. Martyn Taylor, however, was soon to put a halt to proceedings. He put Hall on the wrong side of a 9-4 score line, taking Taylor safely into the last 16 and dumping Hall into the last chance saloon losers qualifying bracket. Hall was in no mood to hang around there, however, and a swift 7-2 win over Mark Parker ensured his safe passage to the last 16. Chris Cowie was unable to make it any further in the tournament, and Hall took a 9-6 victory to secure his place in the quarter finals. The Yorkshireman met the Cornishman in the last, as the character and ever improving Robin Cripps stood in the way of Hall and the semi finals. Hall copied his exploits of the previous round in securing a 9-6 win, meaning Damian Overton was the last person who could stop Hall. Overton was looking for a GB9 final appearance at his very first attempt, but as hard as he tried it was Hall to reigned supreme. 9-7 was the winning score, and Hall continued to the final.

The final saw Gray take the initiative from the word go and never relinquish control of it. He ran away with an 11-4 victory to become the first player to win the Midlands Classic title a third time. Gray�s victory saw him take a provisional ranking of #12 over just three events, whilst Hall�s run to the final saw him rise to a career high of #3. Craig Osborne, despite not reaching the last 16, remains comfortably in top spot.

Share this article on FaceBook

"Read More..." for further details!