After several hours of fiercely competitive snooker going into the knock-out stages fatigue and caution was beginning to prevail and it was Vincent, who was playing with a chipped tip, that was the first of the potential champions to fall. Baird took the match 2-1 ending Vincent’s campaign that left him at the top of the rankings with an unassailable lead but for a twist in the tail as only the best four out of five event results count in deciding the overall champion. This meant that he had more to loose than the rest, so it was still game on! Batten was next favourite and had to win through against Branton Jnr. which he duly did 2-0 to put him into the semis against Baird. With Cole Jnr. beating Williams 2-0 aided by a 91 break and Cole Snr. beating Brookshaw 2(68)-1 it was a shoot-out between the former Tiverton team mates to see who would steal from the unlucky Vincent. Two contrasting styles, Baird, imposing around the table with an ability to fluently build breaks at speed. Batten equally prolific in the break building department but more measured in his approach, both players oozing class. Batten proved the better on this occasion making breaks of 73 & 66 to win 2-1 and guarantee him the overall championship. The final proved a match of missed chances in the closing stages of both frames with the younger up-and-coming Cole Jnr. finally taking the initiative to win the final event.

Tournament Director Roger Cole, said "Another great season of snooker some seventeen century breaks in all, the best a magnificent 134 total clearance by worthy champion Batten. With young players like Cole and Branton coming through from the Silver ranks it bodes well for next season and beyond." For more information about this and other WEBSF tournaments visit the website www.websf.co.uk

Report by Steve Canniford