Gold Flake Grand Slam: Fourth Series, First Leg

Russell wins Thrilling Final after Second Round Fright

Mike Russell came through to beat his perennial rival Peter Gilchrist by just one game in an exciting final. Russell was given a hard match by the current amateur champion and newcomer to the professional ranks - David Causier. In the second round match, Causier lead by two games to nil and by three games to two before losing 4 - 3 as the World No.l ran out in one visit in the final game. o Russell went on to make it a hat trick of wins in Madras with a 7 - 6 win over Gilchrist.

Qualifying Rounds

25th - 27th June

Northern Snooker Centre. Leeds

With the Radion Plaza, Sheffield, being unavailable, three Grand Slam qualifying rounds, and the preliminaries for the World Championship were held, courtesy of Mr Jim Williamson, at the Northern Snooker Centre in July and at the height of the heat wave. It was so hot that even the Indian players were affected. Some players seemed to cope better than others noticeably those younger and more slender!

A very close match between two Indian newcomers. Only eight points between them.

David Causier could hardly have had a tougher introduction to the world of the short format. The English Champion is nothing if not confident, his jaunty approach to the game very nearly saw him to what would have been an outstanding victory. But not for nothing is Russell the World No.l. Just one chance at the beginning of the last game and seven minutes later it was all over. The games totalled 1472 points and the average time per game was 14 minutes and 8 seconds!

Savur is a good player and Shandilya did well to win from 2 - 0 down.

Close on very good form but Griffiths must have been a little aggrieved to lose the third by one point, Close running to game with a 124.

For Potikyan to take a game from Ferreira is little short of sensational.

A hard game for Patel who continues to improve.

Five of the six games were very close indeed.

Bodle is a good cueman but not yet a match for a player of Agrawal's class.

Murphy, though not at his best, played well enough against a relentless Williamson. The Teessider is a quick player but the games averaged 42 minutes.

Jayaram made some good breaks and played well only to see Roxton snatch it on the last.

Rehani did well to beat his vastly experienced opponent. Everton seemed much troubled by the heat.

A real upset this one

The Scot did not get much of a look in.

Joshi did very well taking Norman all the way

Gilchrist in unstoppable form with the last two games lasting a mere twenty minutes.

A very good win for Subhash.

Roxton not quite at his best but a comfortable winner nevertheless.

Sheraton Towers Hotel, Madras, 26th - 29th July

Russell went 2-1 down but had four century breaks in the match and gave Dagley little chance in the last three games.

Sethi is reported to have been quite out of touch but Chapman took full advantage and played very well as is clearly reflected in the figures.

Robby Foldvari w/o v Bob Close

Bob Close withdrew from the tournament as a consequence of a back injury.

Gilchrist gained a measure of revenge for his defeat by Agrawal in the UK final at Wigan.

Russell in Tremendous Form

The first games are described as being rather scrappy. Foldvari admitted to an uncharacteristic failure to make the most of his chances. Game 3 saw Russell finding his best form with an unfinished 107, and he took the next three games all with unfinished century breaks including a, "maximum."

Chapman Struggles

Roxton Chapman found himself on the end of a string of useful breaks from the World Champion and, though making one century went 4-0 behind. A, "maximum," gave him the fifth but Gilchrist was in again with a good run-out in the sixth.

Complete Coverage on Indian National TV Russell wins an exciting Final

The two Teessiders met in yet another important match Mike Russell winning this time. Gilchrist took the first with a century break but Russell then had three centuries to lead 3-1. Gilchrist struck back with another hundred but Russell took the sixth to lead 4 - 2 at the interval. He increased his lead with yet another century but then had to watch as Gilchrist took three games in a row to level at 5 all. A, "maximum," from Russell was immediately followed by one from Gilchrist to put the match level at 6 all with one to play. The mighty Mike is reported as having a stroke of luck in the decider by making a cushion cannon when, after a series of safety strokes, Gilchrist had left him angled. He took full advantage to take the match 7 - 6. There were ten century breaks in the match. There can be no doubt that there is most definitely a place for the short game format in modern billiards.