STACEY GRAHAM
WEBSF LADIES OPEN SNOOKER CHAMPION
Ladies Day at the Plaza
5th August 2017
The recent ‘Ladies Open’ snooker tournament, hosted by Plaza Snooker Club, completed the end of another successful snooker season for the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation (WEBSF). The tournament included local players from Plymouth as well as attracting participants from further afield in Swindon and Cornwall.
The event was won by last season’s runner-up, Stacey Graham from Plymouth, who was able to secure the ‘Ladies Open’ title for 2016-17. In tremendous form, she also took the highest break prize with a magnificent thirty four during the round robin group stages. Stacey, a member of the WEBSF Plymouth Coaching School showed a high level of concentration throughout the tournament as well as a determination to win. In the Final she played the round robin group stage winner Sophie Gibbs-Nicholls, another exceptional player from WEBSF Plymouth coaching school, in an evenly matched game. Both players showed great skill and consistency during the Final and held a steady nerve whilst being able to demonstrate their skills on the table. Although Sophie took the initial lead, in a dramatic turn, Stacey managed to claw her way back to even the scores, forcing a re-spotted black to determine the overall winner. Both players showed tremendous composure under pressure with Stacey eventually managing to sink the black to take the title. Other participants on the day included defending champion Maggie Baugh, Paula Brooks and new comers Anita Ivey and Jackie Ellis.
Darren Hall, WEBSF Tournament Director said “The standard of play and level of skill shown by all the players was a real pleasure to watch. The atmosphere at the event was one of respect and supportiveness with players showing true graciousness both in victory and defeat”. WEBSF Deputy Champion, Deborah Branton added, “The Foundation and its volunteers work tirelessly in the community to promote and encourage participation in the sports of Billiards and Snooker. We are really pleased to have a firm place for the ‘Ladies Open’ within our annual tournament portfolio and hope that it will continue to grow over the coming years”.
The West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation is a not-for-profit community group operated by a team of volunteers who hold regular coaching sessions and tournaments across the South West. If you would like to participate in any of the events or would like to talk to someone about the possibility of volunteering, please contact websf_uk@yahoo.co.uk or visit websfsnooker.com.
Report by Darren Hall & Deborah Branton
WEBSF 