Cue Sports
Fisher downs Sukritthanes on way to retaining World crown, Potts triumphs again
Dominant British cueists, Kelly Fisher and Gareth Potts, came up with a brilliant display to retain their titles at the $400,000 Apex Sports 3rd Heyball World Championships in Pune on Saturday.
While Fisher fended off a late fightback from challenger Waratthanun Sukritthanes of Thailand in a thrilling shootout for the women’s crown, Potts outclassed the hitherto unbeaten Jordan Shepherd 7-4 in the men’s final.
Fisher clinches shootout
Fisher, a cue sports legend, clinched the shootout 5-3 after a 5-5 tie in regulation time during Saturday’ race-to-6 title clash at the Rajan Khinvasara Billiards and Snooker Academy, located inside the Jairaj Sports & Convention Centre in Pune.
Rawat stuns World No.7 Theron, advances to pre-quarters; Varshaa makes second stage
Fisher gifted herself an early birthday present. The British cueist, who turns 48 in ten days, was in top form from the get-go. She capitalised on Sukritthanes’ errors to run up a quick 3-0 lead and seemed to be running away with the title.
However, the Thai cueist nearly made a rack and run following a rare dry break from Fisher, but the black ball wobbled near the mouth. Nevertheless, Sukritthanes sank the black to pull one back following a poor safety shot from her rival.
However, Sukritthanes’ misfortune continued as she miscued her break in the fifth rack and later scratched (went in-off), allowing Fisher to go 4-1 up. The Thai player took the sixth rack after a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. She followed that up with a brilliant clearance in the seventh to reduce the margin.
British conquest in Pune: Gareth Potts (left) and Kelly Fisher
The Thai pro was unlucky in the next rack as well, missing a pot to the bottom left-hand pocket and scratching again. Fisher took advantage of the generous offering to go 5-3 up. However, Sukritthanes fought back with another splendid clearance under pressure in the ninth rack and then had a rack and run following another dry break from Fisher in the 10th rack.
Fisher regrouped in the shootout, potting all five of her attempts to her rival’s three to take home the winner’s cheque of $30,000.
Potts in a different zone
Later, Potts, who came through the losers’ bracket following a loss to Tobias Bongers, was in a different zone altogether. Fortunately for him, Shepherd, who ousted fancied Jack Whelan in the semifinals, failed to get going in the all-important clash.
Defending champion Potts, a four-time World Pool champion, called the shots from the beginning. After being tied 3-3, he shifted gears to leave his rival — who was coming off International Heyball Open triumph earlier this month — gasping in his wake.
Varshaa and Rawat lose
Late on Friday night, the Indian challenge ended with the defeats of Laxman Rawat and Varshaa Sanjeev. While Rawat, playing his fourth match of the day, went down tamely 2-7 to Jack Whelan, Varshaa gave women’s second seed Wendy Jans a fright before falling 3-6 to end her campaign.
Results: Men (final): Gareth Potts (GBR) beat Jordan Shepherd (GBR) 7-4. Semifinals: Potts beat Anderson David (RSA) 7-5; Shepherd beat Jack Whelan (GBR) 7-2. Quarterfinals: Potts beat Joao Grilo (Por) 7-5; Whelan beat Jose Albero Delgado (Esp) 7-1; Shepherd beat Kin Ling Yip (HKC) 7-0; David beat Hsien Lee Po (Tpe) 7-3. Pre-quarterfinals: Whelan beat Laxman Rawat (Ind) 7-2
Women (final): Kelly Fisher (GBR) beat Waratthanun Sukritthanes (Thai) 5-5 (5-3 shootout). Semifinals: Fisher beat Yu-Hsuan Fan (Tpe) 6-2; Sukritthanes beat Diana Khodjaeva (Bel) 6-3. Quarterfinals: Fisher beat Rebecca Kenna (GBR) 6-2; Yu-Hsuan beat Mary Talbot (GBR) 6-1; Khodjaeva beat Wendy Jans (Bel) 4-4 (shootout); Sukritthanes beat Sara Rocha (Por) 4-3. Pre-quarterfinal: Jans beat Varshaa Sanjeev (Ind) 6-3.