Gilchrist ends two-year title drought

By Geet Sethi

MIDSOMER NORTON (UK), MARCH 4. Peter Gilchrist, the world No. 4 ended a two-year title drought by lifting the 2000 Strachan World matchplay billiards championship at the Centurion Hotel in Midsomer Norton. His victim in the 1,500 point up final was the redoubtable Mike Russell, who exhibited remarkable form throughout this tournament. Gilchrist's 1,500-1,200 win was worth œ7,000 while Russell had to be content with œ4,500.

Both cueists were clearly drained by the effort and focus which their respective semifinal victories had demanded from them. While Gilchrist had clinched a 1,250-1,014 victory over yours truly after trailing 829-1004, Russell also displayed his resilience against David Causier by converting a 454-646 deficit into a 1,251-786 win.

It was their ability to raise their respective games when it mattered the most which saw them through to the final. Gilchrist allowed me to compile only 10 points in the last ten visits to his 417. The 6'4`` cueist from Middlesbrough, provided substantial proof of his own greatness in the last half hour of our contest winning an appreciative applause from the full house for his astute safety coupled with careful accumulation of points in those last 10 visits.

Russell was even more impressive in his victory over Causier, who had established an initial 646-454 lead. It was at this time that the world champion digging deep uncorked breaks of 490 & 307 unfinished to clearly establish his authority over his young and enthusiastic opponent.

Understandably, both players looked jaded as they re- entered the arena for the second time. The toll taken on their mental stamina and the sheer exhaustion which follows a hard earned victory was visible throughout the contest. To compound their problems, the table was behaving in an unusual manner. Perhaps it was the effect of the intense body heat being generated by a packed house here or it was a certain amount of moisture, which had been absorbed by the cloth due to a lack of air-conditioning in the hall, which dramatically reduced the speed of the table.

Under the circumstances, both Gilchrist and Russell missed easy shots, because they were unable to judge the reduced split of the balls and the unusually slow table. Even so, Gilchrist displayed far greater adaptability to the alien conditions and laid the foundation of his victory from the 37th visit onwards with the scores 826-806.

In three visits, he accumulated 495 points with contributions of 108, 90 & 297. Under normal circumstances, to come up with such an inspired performance would be commendable, but given the unusual behaviour of the table and the draining effects of his semifinal victory, this burst of 495 points was truly extraordinary.

Gilchrist came to within 177 points of victory with Russell on 812. Russell responded like a wounded tiger. Deep down, he is convinced - and justifiably so - that he is the best billiards player in the world at the moment. And to be unable to prove the same in competitive play has frustrated him on many previous occasions. It was this sentiment that brought out a fluent 214 from the world champion. But a resurgent Gilchrist ended a prolonged period of uncertain form by concluding the contest with an unfinished 113.

For Gilchrist, whose indifferent play had seen him slide down to No. 4 in the rankings after occupying the third spot for the last seven years, the victory will go a long way in helping him to re- establish himself as a formidable opponent. For Russell, the defeat must be intensely disappointing given the lethal form which he had exhibited through out the event.

lThe results: final (1,500 points up): Peter Gilchrist 1,500 (119, 114, 75, 108, 108, 90, 297, 113 unf.) bt Mike Russell 1200 ( 212, 252, 214).

Semifinals (1,250 points up): Peter Gilchrist 1,250 (137, 99, 81, 99, 137) bt Geet Sethi 1,014 (166, 156, 81, 85); Mike Russell 1,251 (92, 200, 490, 307 unf.) bt David Causier 786 (88, 76, 158, 140).

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