World Billiards Championship 2008

[TheStranger]

With the event only a week from today, I thought it'd be a good time to start a thread :snooker: with this news link:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/3209975.Hirst_planning_world_conquest/

And another piece from a few weeks ago:

http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/2356472.m5ec/?from=ec&to=2356472&l=unbeatable_lift_for_gary

[Redphex]

I'm really looking forward to the event ... as every year since I started playing billiards.
Not too many players and fans here in this forum, as it seems :(

[Watford]

I like a game of billiards!
Might of even gone if it was near me.
Do they film it?

[Redphex]

There has been some discussion about it being filmed privately here:
http://www.billiard-junkies.co.uk/viewtopic.php?topic=384&forum=14

There has been a strong discussion about it being officially sancitioned / legal ...

[bongo]

I wish Billiards would be a more popular sport. People just don't want to play it, and most people do not understand it. In my opinion, if there was to be enough Billiards on the television, it would be more popular. Of course that is the same for all things as some would argue, but for Billiards it would really help. There are very few people who understand the rules, understand the game itself and are actually good at it to get some prize money. It would be good if the W.P.B.S.A could be bothered with any attempts to make it popular. It is an art, but there are not many people to teach it if you compare it to Snooker and alongside that, not a lot of professional tournaments. I guess if people don't want to play it then they don't want to play it.

Anyway, good news about the tournament, I hope there is some coverage on TV or the internet.

[Redphex]

"not a lot of professional tournaments" ... good one. the World Championships are the only Pro tournament.
It seems that the most active venture to keep Billiards alive is the EBOS series (www.e-bos.net). The EABA is also active - but professional billiards, currently doesn't have a too bright future.

[TheStranger]

I wish Billiards would be a more popular sport. People just don't want to play it, and most people do not understand it. In my opinion, if there was to be enough Billiards on the television, it would be more popular. Of course that is the same for all things as some would argue, but for Billiards it would really help. There are very few people who understand the rules, understand the game itself and are actually good at it to get some prize money. It would be good if the W.P.B.S.A could be bothered with any attempts to make it popular. It is an art, but there are not many people to teach it if you compare it to Snooker and alongside that, not a lot of professional tournaments. I guess if people don't want to play it then they don't want to play it.

Anyway, good news about the tournament, I hope there is some coverage on TV or the internet.


I do know that the Asian tourney for English billiards was shown somewhere - footage of it is up on Youtube

On that same tangent, while sports stations in the US (Comcast Sports Net, and ESPN/ESPN2) do show cue sports, it'd be nice for an entire niche channel to be devoted to them, thus giving time for not just American pool, but other cue competitions as well. I can dream, can't I...

[bongo]

"not a lot of professional tournaments" ... good one. the World Championships are the only Pro tournament.
It seems that the most active venture to keep Billiards alive is the EBOS series (www.e-bos.net). The EABA is also active - but professional billiards, currently doesn't have a too bright future.

You are quite right there, it is as simple as that.

[TheStranger]

"not a lot of professional tournaments" ... good one. the World Championships are the only Pro tournament.
It seems that the most active venture to keep Billiards alive is the EBOS series (www.e-bos.net). The EABA is also active - but professional billiards, currently doesn't have a too bright future.

Is the Asian tourney for English billiards a pro or amateur tourney?

[bongo]

I think it is professional, in one of the last events, Peter Gilchrist won it, he definately won a similar one if it wasn't the tournament you mean.

[TheStranger]

I think it is professional, in one of the last events, Peter Gilchrist won it, he definately won a similar one if it wasn't the tournament you mean.

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=%22english+billiards%22&search_type=&aq=f

One of the other things that shows up in that search is an Austrian tournament, not sure if it is pro or amateur.

[jasond28]

I'll be there as an avid spectator for the whole tournament and also playing in the Pro-Am on Friday.

If anyones going, give me a nudge and I'll join you for a well earned pint of the black stuff!

[nightman26]

The one Peter Gilchrist won was the "Asian Games English Billiards"
It was best of 9 games 100 up, i think the score was 5 - 2 it was not great Billiards but at least it was recorded, and 100 up is such a short format its hard to get into your stride.
Anyway i have reserved my ticket for the final next sunday so thats all im bothered about at the min

[nightman26]

PS Peter played for Singerpore where he now lives

[nightman26]

First round results starting to come in, no suprises yet, leading the way is the favourite Mike Russell he won his first match and got a nice break of 588

[Karen]

Day 1 Results:

Mike Russell [76, 89, 588] 1068-177 Michael Kreuziger
Devendra Joshi [115, 57, 86, 55, 108, 65uf] 720-253 Gary Rogers
Mike Russell [101, 203, 62, 87, 272, 99] 980-207 Gary Rogers
David Causier [137, 87, 138, 150, 74] 918-302 [84] Sourav Kothari
Sourav Kothari [76, 66, 159] 561-378 [68, 112, 71] Dhruv Sitwala
David Causier [150, 214, 121, 77, 87] 858-533 [63, 66, 80, 141] Dhruv Sitwala
Geet Sethi [118, 94, 53, 79, 92, 70uf] 671-459 [83, 71, 113] Rupesh Shah
Peter Gilchrist [54, 108, 118, 103, 189, 187] 945-447 [61, 97, 54, 84uf] Alok Kumar
Geet Sethi [97, 52, 90, 119, 73, 85, 139] 887-506 [89, 79, 68, 74] Alok Kumar
Pankaj Advani [62, 130, 87, 106, 56, 176uf] 742-308 [81] Ian Williamson
Ian Williamson [54, 62, 69, 129, 85, 86, 40uf] 607-154 Mark Hirst
Pankaj Advani [256, 95, 149, 97] 806-472 [59, 128uf] Mark Hirst

[bongo]

Come on David Causier!! He did a Billiards exhibition at our club, great player.

[RaNeN]

I feel its going to be Russell/Sethi final or a Russell/Advani final.

[Karen]

i look forward to a final between Russell/Gilchrist ;)

Day 2 results:
Mike Russell bt. Devendra Joshi 741:501
Devendra Joshi bt. Michael Kreuziger 809:241
Michael Kreuziger bt. Gary Rogers 370:301
Dhruv Sitwala bt. Paul Bennett 534:483
Saurav Kothari bt. Paul Bennett 541:488
Peter Gilchrist bt. Rupesh Shah 615:433
Rupesh Shah bt. Alok Kumar 744:533
Peter Gilchrist bt. Geet Sethi 749:628
Chris Shutt bt. Mark Hirst 833:392

[bongo]

Just looking at the 2008 World Snooker Championship Discussion Thread, it has 2,409 replies, the 2008 World Billiards Championship Discussion Thread only has 18. I know it is a Snooker forum and not a Billiards forum, but there are only a few members on here that are actually interested in the Billiards championship.

[TheStranger]

Just looking at the 2008 World Snooker Championship Discussion Thread, it has 2,409 replies, the 2008 World Billiards Championship Discussion Thread only has 18. I know it is a Snooker forum and not a Billiards forum, but there are only a few members on here that are actually interested in the Billiards championship.

My big question - and maybe this is a factor in it - is there any video coverage of the Billiards title?

[nightman26]

My big question - and maybe this is a factor in it - is there any video coverage of the Billiards title?

Yes a guy named Brian Watson is covering all the games i copied and pasted this off billiard-junkies.co.uk web site

"THIS POST IS ON BEHALF OF BRIAN WATSON

Video recordings will be taken of some of the matches at this event and centainly the final. I want to find out the level of interest for the sale of dvd's.

Seven matches of the round robins - 4 pounds each. Two matches of the last 8 - 5 pouns each. One match of the Semis - 12 pounds each. The final - 20 pounds each

Total time 28 hours play for seventy pounds at above prices on thirteen DVD's. discounted to fifty pounds for the full package.

Last 8, semis and final - 14 hours play for 42 pounds discounted to thirty pounds.

Final only - 20 pounds

If interested in any of the above, please send a deposit of ten pounds and what you require to B.T. Watson, 7 Moorclose Parade, Queensbury, Bradford, BD13 2JG or e mail: brian@yorkshirebilliards.co.uk

Phone 01274 816307 after 6pm

[RaNeN]

The GSC billiards site isnt working. Heres the Knock Out draw. http://cuesportsindia.com/global/2008/wpb/wpbKO.htm

[RaNeN]

Its Russell V Sethi in the finals....Any guesses whos gonna win?

[bongo]

I think Sethi, come on Geet!

[RaNeN]

I'm sure its going to be a great final. Go Geet!!!

[RaNeN]

Geet lost. Mike Russell won his 10th Pro title, correct?

[Theguywithaplan]

what was the score?

[nightman26]

Geet lost. Mike Russell won his 10th Pro title, correct?

Well done to Mike but it was his 9th world title

[JP1]

Has anyone received a DVD of any of the matches/semi/finals as yet ?? can you comment on the quality of the recording ??:confused:

[JP1]

Day 1 Results:

Mike Russell [76, 89, 588] 1068-177 Michael Kreuziger
Devendra Joshi [115, 57, 86, 55, 108, 65uf] 720-253 Gary Rogers
Mike Russell [101, 203, 62, 87, 272, 99] 980-207 Gary Rogers
David Causier [137, 87, 138, 150, 74] 918-302 [84] Sourav Kothari
Sourav Kothari [76, 66, 159] 561-378 [68, 112, 71] Dhruv Sitwala
David Causier [150, 214, 121, 77, 87] 858-533 [63, 66, 80, 141] Dhruv Sitwala
Geet Sethi [118, 94, 53, 79, 92, 70uf] 671-459 [83, 71, 113] Rupesh Shah
Peter Gilchrist [54, 108, 118, 103, 189, 187] 945-447 [61, 97, 54, 84uf] Alok Kumar
Geet Sethi [97, 52, 90, 119, 73, 85, 139] 887-506 [89, 79, 68, 74] Alok Kumar
Pankaj Advani [62, 130, 87, 106, 56, 176uf] 742-308 [81] Ian Williamson
Ian Williamson [54, 62, 69, 129, 85, 86, 40uf] 607-154 Mark Hirst
Pankaj Advani [256, 95, 149, 97] 806-472 [59, 128uf] Mark Hirst
Michael Kreuziger deserves a medal for his courage to front up at International Billiards events struggling to make a 30 break, I believe he is the best Billiards player in Austria??

He must have learned a lot from the trashings he has received at every event he entered into, I hope to see him in Bangalore in September getting another walloping.

[Redphex]

Michael Kreuziger deserves a medal for his courage to front up at International Billiards events struggling to make a 30 break, I believe he is the best Billiards player in Austria??

Well, at least he beat Gary Rogers and was 3rd in the group ;)

Learning to play Billiards isn't easy in Austria. Besides reading books, following tips and training instructions, you can only try to shape your technique and try to figure out the rest for yourself.
When you don't have an experienced player nearby who you can directly ask in specific situations, its like reinventing the game all over.

From an Austrian point of view, you have to go to big events to see how it's done. Even if you receive one walloping after the other.

[JP1]

I fully appreciate his efforts, I was not critical or condescending of his play, merely stating the obvious, besides he is a fully qualified coach.

[nightman26]

I dont think the dvd's have been released yet, i was talking to the guy filming the final and he said it would be 3 or 4 weeks after the final before the dvd's would be ready.
What i can say is, it should be good quality, it looked a very professional setup and he had a good vantage point, for the final anyway

[bongo]

Hopefully they will be ready soon as I am waiting to buy them!

nightman26, could you just post in this thread when they are ready if you know when they are?

[nightman26]

Hopefully they will be ready soon as I am waiting to buy them!

nightman26, could you just post in this thread when they are ready if you know when they are?

Bongo i have emailed Brian Watson from yorkshirebilliards asking when they will be ready, when he replys i will post.
I am going for the

Finals Package

Quarters, semi and final, 6 disc 14 hours of play DVD package.

Usual price £42, offered for just £30


Seems a good deal to me!

[jasond28]

Nightman

Only the final was recorded.

[bongo]

Nightman

Only the final was recorded.

Have a look at this page (http://yorkshirebilliards.co.uk/Pages/2008_w_champ.htm), I think they filmed other matches too.

[nightman26]

Thats what i am going off as well bongo, but while i was there i did here someone mention that they had some problems early on, but i just thought that was the round robin stages

[jasond28]

Nightman and Bongo

I was there for the whole week and only the final was recorded.

WPBSA wouldn't allow any filming of any other matches for whatever reason.

Its pointless going by what it says on yorkshirebilliards.co.uk as Brian Watson who arranged for these matches to be filmed was on holiday in London at the time.

If you still don't believe me then there's quite enough people on Billiard-Junkies forum who will agree with this post.

[nightman26]

jasond28

I never said i didn't believe you! if you read my post again after you stated that "only the final was recorded", i said i was going off the yorkshirebilliards site and i had heard that they had problems early on.
But i am happy to accept your word for it, i never doubted it!