In a new initiative to bring professional billiards back to Bradford, Brian Watson invited six players to the Great Horton Conservative Club for a one-day tournament. Those taking part were the World Champion, Mike Russell; the Teesside trio of Dave Causier, Chris Shutt and Paul Bennett; York's Gary Rogers and local professional, Mark Hirst.
An initial round-robin involving all players in 50 minute games was played on the club's two billiard tables, with the top pair from this group contesting a one-hour "final".
Mike Russell secured his place in the deciding match by winning four of his five games, the single loss being against Chris Shutt, who was making his first appearance with a plaster-cast on his left hand following an accident the previous week. David Causier, having lost to both Russell and Shutt, only secured his place in the final on aggregate difference having tied on games won with both Shutt and Bennett.
Russell, who had made the highest break of the competition (267) in defeating Causier in the Group stages, soon found himself under pressure as Causier opened the final explosively, with a break of 110 at his first visit. He followed this with another contribution of 116 two visits later and the scoreboard soon read 231-0, a huge handicap even for the World Champion. Russell did open his account with a run of 121, but needed more, and when this was not forthcoming, it was Causier who secured the winner's prize of £125. Russell received £75 and an additional £50 for his high break, but if there were any doubts that it had not been Russell's day, it was later discovered that his car had been broken into and the radio stolen.
Apart from this sour note, organiser Brian Watson, was delighted with the way the event had been received and plans are already being made for a repeat tournament next year. In addition, Brian intends to promote a series of Pro-Am tournaments during the Summer months, the first of which will be at Odsall Top, Bradford on Sunday 18th May. Others will follow at Cambridge and the North-East.