Strachan British Open Championship

Ashover Training Centre, Nr. Chesterfield

18th-22nd March 1998

Peter Gilchrist: 1998 British Open Champion.

There were some tight finishes in the opening round of 2 hour games, with Subash Agrawal getting the better of Mukesh Rehani by 43 points and David Causier only 66 better than Manoj Kothari.

Arun Agrawal out-pointed Norman Dagley by 54 and Devendra Joshi beat Clive Everton by 66. Geet Sethi was given a scare by B. Bhaskar, winning by only 20.

Alternatively there were comprehensive victories by Robby Foldvari, Peter Gilchrist and Chris Shutt. David Sneddon was awarded 150 points after a late arrival by Michael Ferreira and went on to beat him by 284.

Robby Foldvari and Chris Shutt had already made double century breaks and there were 12 other centuries in the opening round. This was forerunner to a wealth of breaking making. Overall there were 68 centuries, 19 doubles and 6 triples the highest being a 361 by Mike Russell.

The Second Round opened with averages rocketing and breaks a plenty. Even a 34.7 average saw Bob Close comprehensively beaten. Rex Williams has a 302 break in a total 394 score but lost by nearly 300 as Robby made a 321 and two other centuries.

Roxton made four centuries, Geet two, and Peter a triple. Points flowed from David Causier's cue, an opening 300 was followed by 272 and 289 plus a 189 as he scored 1,541 in 2 hours, Dave Sneddon chipped in with 204 points, and the pair scored in excess of 14 points every minute.

Mike Russell: Highest break of 361.

Chris Shutt's hope of progress was stopped by Devendra Joshi, neither player made a century.

The quarter finals moved to a four hour format and saw the end of the road for David, Robby, Devendra and Eugene, David had three centuries but Roxton equalled them and added a triple.

Geet's four centuries and two doubles were too good for Devendra while Eugene couldn't live with Mike's rate of scoring.

The world champion averaged almost 53 points with four centuries, two doubles and the 361.

Robby held an interval lead over Peter after breaks of 136 and 225 and added a 205.

Peter averaged 123 points in the 2nd session with 267 and 254 breaks then timed a 65 unfinished to perfection to win by a mere 3 points from the Aussie.

In the Semi-Final, first session, Peter made a 180 and 200 but trailed Roxton by 134 points after three centuries. From the restart Peter improved a 23 unfinished to 254 and then dominated the session with three further centuries Roxton made his total score more respectable with a 200 unfinished.

Despite a 228 Mike Russell trailed Geet Sethi after the Indian's 247 and two other centuries. Geet kept a grip on the match to win overall by 360 points.

The final saw Peter score at consistent levels of 56.1 and 54.4 average to out-point Geet in both sessions. A 340 point midterm lead came via breaks of 101, 223 and 196.

Four 2nd session centuries ensured overall victory with Geet improving his scoring level with a 148 and 187 unfinished.