Snooker king Blamire loses billiards final to newcomer (From Wharfedale Observer)

Snooker king Blamire loses billiards final to newcomer

11:48am Thursday 7th June 2012 in Other Sport

Andy Blamire of Guiseley Factory recorded a landmark tenth victory in the Wharfedale snooker open final this week – just 24 hours after being beaten in the handicap billiards final.

The snooker final, at Menstone Club, was a best of seven-frame match against one of the season’s most successful players Phil King of High Royds.

Blamire, the reigning champ- ion, started well but the first frame was a nervy one with neither player wanting to leave opportunities.

Eventually Blamire managed to close out the frame on the high colours.

He also took the second frame in much the same style but King started to relax and in the third he made a superb 34 break.

That left him needing the final red to go 34 points ahead with 27 left and making him favourite for the frame which would get him back into the match.

Inexplicably King attempted a difficult screw shot but miscued it completely resulting in a foul jump shot that enabled Blamire to take the four points for the foul and then clear up to steal the frame.

King never really recovered from that mistake. Blamire was in total control and calmly built a lead in the fourth frame and left his opponent needing snookers with all the colours remaining.

King got points from two excellent snookers but Blamire managed a long brown to secure the landmark victory.

The trophy was presented by WBSA President Mick Hutchin- son.

Blamire won his first title in 1992 so to win ten times in 20 years is testament to his ability and a great achievement.

Blamire, again defending one of his titles, had been in action the night before in the WBSA billiards handicap final at High Royds against John Waite of the Menstone Club.

Blamire is an experienced and multiple title winner whereas Waite was playing his first final in his debut year of competing at billiards.

The handicapping meant that Waite needed to score 145 points and Blamire 280 to reach the 300 point finish line.

If Waite was nervous it didn’t show as he was the first to make a decent contribution with a 17.

Blamire looked dangerous and clawed back some of the handicap margin but Waite never allowed him to get into a rhythm.

He matched Blamire’s scoring and was sound tactically.

Waite left the red ball safe on many occasions to limit Blamire’s scoring opportunities.

Waite recorded one of the highest breaks of the evening when he equalled his competition best of 27 and followed it immediately with another 17 break which saw him close in on the 300 point finish line.

Waite sealed his win with a nice 11 break.

On the night the Menstone player had actually outscored Blamire by three points and so it is clear that the handicapping committee will be seriously reviewing his handicap next year.

There was more final heartache for King when he was beaten 3-0 by Sam Finister of Hollygarth in the Otley League Singles Handi- cap Competition.

Finister took an early lead but King cleared up the colours and needed the black to snatch the first frame.

To Finister’s relief King missed and left the ball nicely for him to edge ahead.

In the second frame King made a good 24 break which Finister responded to with a 34 as he went 2-0 up.

Finister was cueing confidently and again took the lead in the third frame.

Already 20 ahead, Finister’s next visit to the table was decisive as he built a superb 43 break.

With just the colours left and 63 ahead Finister had done enough and King conceded.

It was unlucky for King to come up against three in-form players in his three finals but surely his time will come.