Russell makes amends

MIKE RUSSELL, stung by his inability to win the world championship earlier this year, made amends at the North Ormesby Institute in Middlesbrough by winning the 2001 British Open billiards championship. In the final, the world No. 1 overcame the spirited challenge of compatriot David Causier, the world No. 3, with a dramatic comeback to erase a 300-point deficit to emerge victorious by a 1599-1318 margin.

Having survived a mentally exhausting semifinal match against Chris Shutt, wherein the world No. 1 snatched victory from the brink of defeat with a timely 414 effort, Russell appeared somewhat drained and out of sorts coming into the four-hour final. Indeed, all throughout this tournament, his game and his wins had a similar pattern. He had struggled in the earlier part of his three previous matches, which he won in the run up to the final.

Even against Paul Bennett, a relatively unknown and new entrant into the world of professional billiards, the four times world champion was unable to establish his supremacy in the contest missing too many easy shots. But by uncorking a match winning 414, he took control of the second round match midway and then won with relative ease.

Against Ashok Shandilya in the quarterfinals he performed with a bit more consistency, though he gave too many scoring opportunities to the Indian in the earlier part of the two-hour match. Against Chris Shutt in the semi-final his initial display was woefully out of sorts but again, the 34-year-old dug deep to pull off a fantastic 414 break in the last 38 minutes to clinch a dramatic and remarkable victory.

Causier, on the other hand, had proceeded into the final with displays, which had a stamp of authority. Having disposed of a struggling Devendra Joshi, he easily snubbed out the challenge of Nalin Patel in the quarterfinal and then an inspirational burst of scoring helped him to a convincing victory over Peter Gilchrist.

So, when Causier capitalised on Russell's uneasy and edgy disposition and established a 717-411 point advantage in the opening one and half hours of the four-hour contest, Russell's supporters were not unduly worried. And keeping their faith in his ability to respond, Russell stirred from his lethargy first with a run of 242 and then in the second session took control of the match with a burst of scoring which saw him accumulating 620 points in four successive visits.

Causier is a great front-runner and has this unique ability to keep the scoreboard ticking with a style of play, which at best can be described as 'unorthodox' and at worst be termed as 'wild and uncontrolled'.

However, Russell's clinical and precise break-building soon deflated his bubbly enthusiasm. Unable to give a fitting response to Russell's breaks of 61, 301, 188 & 69 in the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd visit, Causier collapsed to defeat in the concluding stages of the encounter.

The victory was worth pounds 5000 but more importantly Russell reaffirmed his dominance and invincibility in the pro-tour after his inability to win the world title in April this year. He has been instrumental in the last five years in raising the general standards of the game and has been a role model for the likes of Causier, Shutt and Peter Sheehan, who have emerged from the clutches of mediocrity and been converted into fine all-round billiards players.

While much criticism has been offered about his off table escapades, his disposition on the table and exhibition of true sportsmanship is exemplary. In the final he once again provided further proof of his competitive table manners when he called a foul on himself. He was trailing by 200 points at that stage and had Causier capitalised on that spontaneous admission, Russell could well have lost the match. The ferociously competitive cueist has undoubtedly set the standards for sportsmanship on the billiards table.

The results (final, four hours):

Mike Russell beat David Causier 1599 (191, 242, 302, 188) - 1318 (292, 135).

Semi-finals: Russell beat Shutt 695 (414) - 619 (107); Causier beat Gilchrist 775 (126, 165, 173) - 435.

Quarter-finals: Peter Gilchrist beat Roxton Chapman 397 (189) - 385; Mike Russell beat Ashok Shandilya 781 (200, 320) - 407; David Causier beat Nalin Patel 860 (114, 176, 104, 181) - 420; Chris Shutt beat Rom Surin 874 (165, 102, 234) - 410.

Second round: Chris Shutt beat Mark Hirst 987 (305) - 327; Roxton Chapman beat Clive Everton 658 (117, 195) - 237; David Causier beat Devendra Joshi 742 (122) - 442 (102); Mike Russell beat Paul Bennett 657 (414) - 442; Rom Surin beat Geet Sethi 474 (101) - 409; Peter Gilchrist beat Peter Sheehan 615 (143) - 29; Nalin Patel beat Ian Williamson 458-326; Ashok Shandilya beat Robby Foldvari 432-358.

First round (two hours): Ian Williamson beat Andrew Sage 341-243; Rom Surin beat Brian Dix 650 (172) - 234; Mark Hirst beat Michael Ferreira 524-318; Clive Everton beat Gary Rogers 294-276.