(Rileys, Plymouth)
Cole Wins Shoot-Out at Rileys
Report
26th January 2009
Roger Cole rolled back the years to come through a field of young guns to take the inaugural crown of Rileys 6+6 Snooker Champion. The the 6+6 mode of play is the same as for conventional snooker with the exception of only playing with six reds in use instead of the normal 15. This shorter format produces some attacking play and unusual results and this tournament proved no exception. With fewer chances in the frame the better players found little time to relax as the result was never a fore gone conclusion. With a maximum points tally of 75 even a 20-30 break proved a useful lead, and against young potters, blink and you’ve lost!
In a close fought final Cole defeated local snooker prodigy Tom Vanstone 2-1, Cole having to clear with a fine 55 break to win when Vanstone looked the favourite. Cole was also made to fight hard in the semi and quarter final matches beating Darren Hall and Darran Lock, both taking Cole to the deciding frame. Vanstone had a comfortable 2-0 win against Michael Day in the other semi final and narrowly beat the ‘Pocket Rocket’ Haydon Pinhey 2-1 in the quarters. Day beat the favourite from the knock-out stages, Grant Cole, 2-0 and Lock was pushed hard by another up-and-coming snooker talent, Chris Coumbe 2-1 in the remaining quarter final matches.
In group A Grant Cole went undefeated wining all seven matches and dropping only two frames recording breaks of 33,34,40,60 and the best of the day a 71, just 4 short of a 6+6 maximum. Lock finished in second spot making breaks of 51,43,39 & 32. A great effort from Coumbe saw him in third place and Vanstone in forth. Wayne and Dale branton posted breaks of 56 & 40 respectively. Roger Cole topped Group B with Day edging Pinhey into third place. Hall by way of frame difference just pipped Dan Legassick for the forth qualifying spot. Legassick, one of the youngest players at 1 years old pleased with his days work.
Rileys sponsored the tournament which gave excellent value for money – every player played a minimum of 14 frames of snooker and all the entry fees were distributed as prize money.
Report by Steve Canniford
Six – Six Results
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