Russell The Emperor

Final: The emperor of English Billiards, Mike Russell, has proved again, why he is chosen as an emperor. The final of the IBSF World Billiards 2010 (Point format) started at 1704 hours (India time) and Mike finished it in 2 hours 14 minutes claiming all six games in his pockets. Pankaj somehow managed to get two breaks of 43 and 45 in the opening game and score 129, but Mike claimed the first game smashing break of 129. There onwards, Pankaj was merely a spectator in the next four games where Mike smashed breaks of 145, 128, 92 and 149 (unfinished) to reach 5-0 very quickly.

In the sixth game on a score of 25 by Mike, Pankaj got an opportunity and he did justice with a break of 80, but again a missed long jenny cost him his world title. Finally Mike walked away with the world title and prize money US $ 6000 as total prize money (including US $ 4000 sponsors’ prize) and Pankaj received US $ 1800 (including sponsors’ prize US $ 1000). Geet Sethi (India) and Peter Gilchrist (Singapore) were awarded as Bronze medalists.

Time Format will start tomorrow i.e. 24 August 2010 @ 0900 hours (India time).

A special India v/s. Rest of World Champion will also take place tomorrow @ 1700 hours.

I sign off now to leave you with some beautiful photographs taken by Adam Wyard, the IBSF Webmaster.