Haydon Pinhey
Masters Champion 2016/17
Event Sponsored and Hosted by Galaxy Centre, Torquay
Gold Waistcoat Masters – Results 2016-17
Pinhey Retains Masters Title
17th June 2017
The Galaxy Centre, Torquay hosted and sponsored the 2017 West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation’s, Gold Waistcoat Masters for the second season. After a series of six events on the WEBSF Gold Waistcoat Snooker Tour the top sixteen ranked players were invited to compete in ‘The Masters’. Eddie Manning (Newquay), Andy Symons (Tavistock), Andy Neck (Newton Abbot) and reigning Masters champion Haydon Pinhey from Plymouth were the top four seeds. How would they perform playing the best of seven frame matches, instead of best of three, in a straight knock-out event?
The first round got underway with the all top seeds progressing into the quarter finals, the only scare came from the pairing of Symons and Daniel Hall (Pymouth). Hall punched above his weight to match the second seed to level a 3-3. However, Symons’ class came to the fore in the deciding frame to see him win 4-3. The best breaks of the round came from Harvey Chandler (Raunds) who posted three fifty breaks and James Lee (Torquay) who made an excellent 101 break. At this point the first round losers peeled off into the plate event. The quarter finals all ended in landslide victories; Manning defeated Dale Branton (Plymouth) 4-0, a surprising score-line given Branton’s recent form. It was just three weeks back he achieved a maximum 147 break; After his century in the first round Lee was also in good form. However, a century break only wins one frame and Pinhey ran out a 4-1 winner; Local man Neck looked to be playing well, making breaks of 54 & 95 to beat Darran Lock (Seaton, Cornwall) 4-1; The final match of the quarters pitched Chandler against Symons, earlier in the season it was honours even in the Gold Waistcoat Tour events both beating the other in back to back finals. Chandler has recently had a good run of form, reaching a couple of finals in pro-am tournaments, this good form saw him win 4-1 to conclude the round. In the first semi-final is was a repeat of last seasons Masters final with Manning facing Pinhey, a high quality match ensued before Pinhey won it 4(67,72)-2(55). The second semi-final was arguably of even higher quality. Chandler beat Neck 4-1 with Neck posting breaks of 54 & 65 and Chandler a superb 110. Dan Legassick (Plymouth) later matched it in the plate final and so the high break prize was shared between them. The final did not bring forth any breaks of note and it was Pinhey who once again proved to be the big match winner, wining 4-1 to retain the WEBSF Gold Waistcoat Masters title for the second season.
The plate was won by Legassick won beat Mitch Wood, (Barnstaple). All players that played on the day received prize money in recognition for reaching the Masters.
WEBSF spokesman said, “This win keeps Haydon Pinhey firmly at the top of the all-time money rankings after playing in WEBSF tournaments for ten seasons. Eddie Manning has charged up the rankings into fourth place after just three seasons. However, whilst the prize money is nice to have the players keep entering our tournaments. They like the the high quality competition and the value for money our tournaments provide. Well done to International Referee Nick Harry for another Sterling effort. Thanks to The Galaxy Centre, Torquay for hosting and sponsoring this and other WEBSF events this season along with Jesters, Swindon, Top Q, Gloucester and 147 Club, Swindon. Without their generosity this service to the community would be very difficult to realise.”
Any player interested in entering WEBSF Tournaments or would like to attend WEBSF Coaching sessions, should contact Steve Canniford, Mobile 07891940995 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook.
Report by Steve Canniford
WEBSF 