Mens Event 2

The second Mens event of the year took place across three venues over the last couple of weeks.

In North Wales, the players returned to the Pwllheli Snooker Club for the first time for a number of years, leaving some players with a 150 mile round trip. With using just 4 tables, the competition was over around 6:30pm, with Matthew Robers and Alex Taubman qualifying for the last 8, Alex coming from 2-0 down to beat Steven Thomas on his home ground, who prepared the tables prior to the competition starting.

South Wales played in a single venue, meaning 6 qualifying places were up for grabs. The single venue added a little spice to the proceedings as some players traditionally never crossed cues until the finals weekend, geography keeping them apart. Thomas Lancastle dropped a frame per round on his way to qualification, just reward for several near misses over the last couple of years. Rhydian Richard and Andrew Pagett traded blows for spot number 2, Andrew edging it 3-2 with breaks of 68 and 63 to Rhydian's 78. Jackson Page survived an early scare from Tyler Rees, defeating Gavin Lewis to nook his finals spot.

Dylan Emery took the fourth spot after overcoming Ross Jones 3-2. Matthew Gillard took the fifth place, seeing off Conor Caniff 3-1. The final qualification spot went to Matthew Farrant, sending Dan Evans home 3-1/

Finals day took place at Mark Williams Snooker Club, Tredegar. Table 1 was streamed from start of the competition to the end. First up were Jackson and Dylan, Jackson kept Dylan safe for most of the match, only leaving one clear opportunity from which Dylan made 47, but Jackson still ran out 3-0 winner. Thomas ran in a tidy 59 in the second frame of his Table 2 encounter with Matthew Farrant to go 2-0 up. Matthew got himself together and clinched the next 2 frames to equal the score. The deciding frame could have been anyone’s but Thomas squeezed the victory 3-2. On Table 3, Matthew Roberts couldn't get into the groove at all, his opponent Matthew Gillard leaving him no easy opportunity in a 3-0 win. Table 4 was a nip and tuck encounter, with Alex starting convincingly taking the first 2 frames with 90 in first and 59 in 2nd. Andrew came to the table for the 3rd frame having not scored a single point in the day, but dug deep to take the next 3 frames 64-39, 59-34 and 98-20.

In the semi-finals Andrew carried on his purple patch against Thomas, with a 65 break in the first and 60 in the second. Thomas clawed away in the 3rd and won it on the black making it 2-1. The 4th frame was patchy but Andrew managed to grab the frame and a 3-1 victory. The other Semi was Jackson taking on Matthew Gillard. By now Jackson had found his game and took the first frame confidently whilst the second frame was taken in 2 visits with 52 & 50. Matthew came back at Jackson with a 64 in the 3rd frame, pulling one back but it was a little too late as Jackson stormed the deciding frame with a 58. 

The final saw Jackson start as he meant to go on as defending champion In the event, showing a bit of class and not allowing Andrew to score a single point in the 1st frame. The second frame was a thriller, Jackson took the first 8 points and returned with a 56 putting him 64 points ahead with 74 on. Andrew played brilliantly, even taking 2 reds from the cushion to continue the clearance. All was going to plan on 67 but Andrew surprisingly missed a half ball black from the spot leaving a cut back for Jackson to take the frame and make it 2-0. The 3rd frame was all Jackson’s and he took the frame with a comfortable 84 Break rounding off a 3-0 victory.