THE WHITWORTH BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT

Whitworth Institute, Darley Dale

Sunday 19th November 2000 - All games 50 minutes

Chris Shutt had little time for celebrating his victory in the World Open in Middlesbrough, being called into action the very next day at Darley Dale in rural Derbyshire. The annual invitation tournament had the same line-up as last year, with Chris Shutt being joined by Mike Russell, Peter Gilchrist and Paul Bennett in the usual series of 50 minute games.

Mike Russell outclasses his opponents at Darley Dale.

Despite early breaks of 72 and 64 by Mike Russell, his first match against Bennett failed to reach any great heights. Bennett's performance, considering that he was the winner of this event last year, being particularly disappointing.

Russell's next game against Peter Gilchrist appeared to be going much the same way, with Gilchrist, thanks mainly to an early 61 break, establishing a narrow 115-100 lead. At this point Russell stepped up several gears, producing breaks of 82, 132 and 330 unfinished in his next four visits to run out a 562-164 winner. This triple century proved to be the highest of the day, although Russell threatened to pass it in his final heat against Chris Shutt when he made a run of 281. Both of these games gave him impressive match averages of over 70.

Peter Gilchrist contributed to the day's entertainment with a fine break of 228 against Chris Shutt. Even so, he needed to finish with a 61 at his last visit to edge out the new "World Open" Champion by just 34 points. Back-to-back breaks of 102 and 180 against Paul Bennett were enough to secure Gilchrist the last game of the day and conclude another successful exhibition by some of the World's best players.

Russell's three wins gave him the first prize in addition to the "Norman Dagley Trophy" for the highest break. Peter Gilchrist, with his wins over Shutt and Bennett, finished second.