ENGLISH GRAND MASTERS

Atack Snooker Club, Nuneaton. Sunday 23rd March 2003

The Final stages of the 2003 Grand Masters were played at The Atack Centre, Nuneaton on Sunday 23rd March by kind permission of Bob Coales and his team. Regional competitions had determined the eight players who would compete on a straight knockout basis with all matches officiated by members of the EABA Referees' Section.

The main shock of the Quarter-Finals was the defeat of twice previous Champion Steve Crosland at the hands of Yorkshire team-mate Tony Clegg. Tony has proved already this season in the County Team Championship, and the odd ABC, to be a dangerous opponent on his day. Last year's runner-up Jim McCann recorded an excellent win over David Burgess aided by four 50+ breaks which ensured occupation of the table.

Macclesfield's Norman Routledge compiled a fine century break in his huge win over Gareth Wakeford.

The semi-finals brought comfortable victories for Jim McCann and Richard Lodge over Tony Clegg and Norman Routledge respectively. Jim registering the highest break of the day—a beautiful visit of 141—along with three other runs over fifty.

Richard showed very solid form, putting together breaks of 85, 66 & 59 in his 300 point success.

As has been reported many times previously, Finals are there to be won no matter how you play and both players were probably disappointed in their performance. In tight games such as this one, the run of the ball can be all important and it would be fair to say that Richard enjoyed no luck in this department. That having been said, perhaps it was fitting that Jim should emerge victorious following his narrow reverse in last year's Final against Peter Shelley.