The Hindu : Russell pots record fifth title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 26, 2002

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Russell pots record fifth title

By Geet Sethi

Midsomer Norton May 25. Mike Russell, performing with his characteristic fluency, cruised to a 2251-1273 victory over defending champion Peter Gilchrist in the final of the 2002 World professional billiards championship at the Centurion hotel here on Friday.

This is perhaps Russell's sweetest victory yet as he becomes the only cueist to have won this title for a record fifth time. Russell collected the glittering trophy and a cheque for £13,000, including a £500 cheque for the 581 highest break he recorded in the semifinal against David Causier.

Throughout the week, Russell had displayed superior skill, copybook technique and burning desire to win his record fifth title. Having arrived into the final without being stretched at any stage of the tournament, he ensured that he imposed his superiority early in the first session against Gilchrist.

The class difference between him and the rest of the players on the circuit has by now been well defined. Except for the final, in which he outclassed Gilchrist by less than1000 points, his margin of victory in all other matches in the tournament had been well over 1000 points.

Against Dhruv Sitwala, his first round opponent he won by a margin of 1007 points, he then crushed Manoj Kothari in the quarterfinal by 1765 points and then against Causier, the world No. 3 he uncorked that immaculate 581 to score a 1362 point victory.

In comparison, his billiards on Friday lacked the sustained concentration with which he had approached all his previous matches. Perhaps drained after a week of constant billiards or perhaps just sure that he would win the title, Russell was not as sharp.

However, he was still good enough to commence the contest with breaks of 114, 189 & 223 at his second, third and fifth visits. By the time he concluded the opening two-hour session, he had added further efforts of 104 & 168 to enjoy a comforting first session advantage of 818-183.

In a lacklustre second session, both cueists struggled. Russell just seemed relieved to have established a match winning lead and Gilchrist was only too aware that if he did not perform at this crucial stage of the contest, he would have no hope of a recovery in the last session. Gilchrist failed completely under the weight of that pressure and Russell consolidated his position further with a 376 unfinished towards the concluding stages of the second session. Russell had stretched his first session lead to over 1000 points including the 376 unfinished and virtually sealed the match in his favour.

What mattered in the final session was how many more points he would add to that unfinished break of 376. On the resumption, Russell extended the break to 421 but broke down with a sudden and unexpected lack of concentration.

Gilchrist by now was playing only for pride of performance. With the realisation that he had no chance, he relaxed and responded with breaks of 224, 198 and 106 to end the third session with an average of 46.9. In the six hour final, dominated by the world no.1, Gilchrist made amends by outscoring his opponent in the third and final two-hour session.

Russell's victory also ensures that he retains his No.1 spot in the world rankings for the sixth successive year. His mastery over the floating white method of top of the table play is perhaps unmatched by any other modern cueist.

And it is this mastery, which has been instrumental in his successful negotiation of the baulk line rule, which prevents most players to register big breaks. His commitment to the game and single-minded focus are exemplary and the days of rash and sometime unruly behavior seem to be a distant memory.

The results (Final, six hours): Mike Russell 2251 (114, 189, 223, 104, 168, 421, 196) bt Peter Gilchrist 1273 (224, 198, 106)

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