EBOS Bradford Open billiards finalists Mark Hirst of Bradford
BRADFORD potter Mark Hirst made the final of the latest English Billiards Open Series event at Cue Gardens.
The weekend competition boasted the world champion and world No 1 Peter Gilchrist, as well as three other members of the world’s top ten.
Hirst won his group on Saturday and progressed to the decider on Sunday – where he went down by an incredible 1448-65 to world No 2 Dave Causier, who overwhelmed all his opponents to take his umpteenth Bradford Open title.
Bradford ace Hirst was not the only one to suffer against someone whose lowest score over the two days was 733, while the lowest high break he recorded in a match was 201.
The highest break of the event was 709, also by Causier, in his quarter-final against Gilchrist, who he beat 809 (709, 58) to 562 (51, 309, 192).
The score in the final was harsh on Hirst, who had performed superbly all weekend. But with Causier making breaks of 489, 605, 158 and 149 in just four visits, there was little Bradford’s former professional could do.
Stephen Kershaw won two of his four games in the group stages but, having been on the wrong end of two heavy defeats against top-ranked players, just missed out on qualification on points difference.
