capaldi achieves top marks
2009 Carlsbert Scottish Open 9-Ball Championships
Styx, Kirkcaldy
7 and 8 November 2009
Stevie Capaldi from Glasgow won his first Scottish Open 9-Ball title with a thrilling 11-7 final victory over Striling's Andy Morris to take the title, along with the £750 first prize.
2009 Carlsberg Scottish Open 9-Ball Champion, Stevie Capaldi, in action
A total of 50 players turned up at Styx, Kirkcaldy for this year's Scottish Championships but what was lacked in numbers was more than made up for in the quality of players that were there to fight for the £2,000 prize fund. The format for the event saw all the players entered into the Double Elimination draw and play until 16 players remained - 8 players in the Winners' Bracket and 8 in the Losers' Bracket. These 16 players would then play in a Single Elimination format to find the winner.
Of the early matches, some of the stand-out results included Sanjay Varma's 8-6 victory over the highly rated Stuart McPhee and Jimmy Pollock's run of results to reach the last 16 undefeated. Pollock's, the first winner of the Scottish Championship title back in 2000, reached the last 16 with wins over Edinburgh's Remi Passiatore (8-4), number 3 ranked - and good friend - Davy Jack (8-2) and the ever improving Alan Greenshields (8-4).
Jimmy Pollock reliving the form of times past
There was, however, one incident that caused some discussion amongst those present. During Stuart Ellis' final Losers' Bracket round match with Cameron Bowes, Ellis played a shot on the 4-ball that resulted in both the cueball and object ball being wedged in the pocket. Both balls were touching the face of the pocket drop and it was ruled that Cameron would have to play from there. Everyone knew that as soon as the cueball was struck the 4-ball would drop into the pocket. What wasn't sure was what the cueball would do. Sadly for Cameron, the cueball bounced twice on the surface off the table before flying off, giving Stuart ball in hand.
The cueball and 4-ball are wedged in the pocket. If you look really
closely, you will see that neither ball is actually
on the playing surface of the table.
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By the time mid-afternoon on Sunday arrived, however, there were only 16 players left. They were:-
Winners' Bracket Qualifiers |
Losers' Bracket Qualifiers |
Stevie Capaldi Pat Holtz Ian Mackintosh Paddy Mc Loughlin Andy Morris Fraser Patrick Jimmy Pollock Michael Valentine |
Greg Alexander Stuart Ellis Kevin Irving Davy Jack Jayson Shaw Adam Smith Sanjay Varma Tam Walkinshaw |
The draw for the last 16 produced a number of mouth-watering matches.
Last 16 Losers - £40 |
||||
P Holtz |
9 |
v |
7 |
J Shaw |
F Patrick |
9 |
v |
2 |
T Walkinshaw |
S Capaldi |
9 |
v |
4 |
G Alexander |
I Mackintosh |
9 |
v |
5 |
K Irving |
J Pollock |
6 |
v |
9 |
A Smith |
P Mc Loughlin |
8 |
v |
9 |
D Jack |
A Morris |
9 |
v |
4 |
S Varma |
M Valentine |
9 |
v |
6 |
S Ellis |
Jayson Shaw breaking another rack in his match with Pat Holtz
The stand out match of the round was the encounter between former winners Pat Holtz and Jayson Shaw. Holtz always seemed to have the upper hand in the encounter and managed to finally get past the tenatious Shaw by 9 racks to 7. Another excellent match was that between Scottish number 3, Davy Jack, and Irish number 1, Paddy Mc Loughlin. Paddy, one of a group of 4 players who travelled over from Ireland to play, had been 8-5 down at one point but managed to tie the match at 8 racks each before Jack managed to get the upper hand in a tense safety battle to progress to the Quarter Finals.
Paddy Mc Loughlin working through a rack in his match with Davy Jack
Quarter Finals Losers - £80 |
||||
P Holtz |
8 |
v |
9 |
F Patrick |
S Capaldi |
9 |
v |
6 |
I Mackintosh |
A Smith |
4 |
v |
9 |
D Jack |
A Morris |
9 |
v |
0 |
M Valentine |
Adam Smith clearing up another rack
The stand-out result from this round was Andy Morris's 9-0 demolition of Michael Valentine. Morris pounced on a few early and uncharacteristic mistakes from Valentine and took full advantage of them. What makes Morris's result all the more remarkable is that the tournament was being played using the alternate break format. Fraser Patrick and Pat Holtz battled out a hard-fought hill-hill match with Patrick getting the better of the defending champion to progress to the semi finals.
The eliminations of both Pat Holtz and Michael Valentine guaranteed that there would be a new winner of the Scottish Open.
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Some of the crowd watching the end of the Holtz v Patrick match
Semi Finals Losers - £130 |
||||
F Patrick |
7 |
v |
10 |
S Capaldi |
D Jack |
3 |
v |
10 |
A Morris |
The semi finals were a real contrast to each other. The Capaldi v Patrick match was a real marathon with no player getting a sizeable lead until near the end when Capaldi managed to get the better of the safety exchanges that seemed to be dotted around the match.
The other semi final match, however, was a continuation of Andy Morris's phenominal run through the tournament. Up to and including this semi final, Morris had not given up any more than 4 racks in any match. In fact, Morris was so dominant in his run that he now had a total score of 44 racks to 8 over his 5 opponents. It was a display of pool playing dominance that this reporter could not recall ever seeing in a SAPPA event.
The Final Winner - £750 :: Runner-up - £350 |
||
Andy Morris
|
v |
Stevie Capaldi
|
This year's Carlsberg Scottish Open Championship final was a much anticipated match up. While Morris was having the tournament of his life, it was his first time in the final. For Capaldi, it was his second time in the final, having previously been on the wrong end of a 9-3 scoreline against Geoff Dunn in 2003. For either of them, it would be their first Scottish Open title.
The finalists of the 2009 Carlsberg Scottish Open 9-Ball
Championships - Andy Morris (left) and Stevie Capaldi
Rack 1
Capaldi won the lag for the opening break. He took advantage of this by breaking and running out the first rack.
Stevie Capaldi 1 - 0 Andy Morris
Rack 2
Morris broke but had to play safe afterwards. Capaldi won the ensuing safety battle after Morris scratched while escaping a well laid snooker and ran the rack to increase his early lead.
Stevie Capaldi 2 - 0 Andy Morris
Rack 3
Another tactical battle ensued from Capaldi's break. Capaldi managed to fluke a bank on the 2-ball. He then misses a relatively easy 4 but flukes a snooker. Morris manages to escape from the snooker leaving the ball in a makeable position. Capaldi makes the 4 but then misses the 5 ball. Morris clears up to put his first rack on the scoresheet.
Stevie Capaldi 2 - 1 Andy Morris
Rack 4
Awesome break from Morris who then misses the 1-ball but leaves Capaldi snookered. Capaldi fails to hit the 1-ball bringing Morris to the table who then fouls himself. Capaldi clears the table to extend his lead.
Stevie Capaldi 3 - 1 Andy Morris
Rack 5
Capaldi breaks off and makes a ball but then misses the 1-ball. With ball in hand, Morris clears up.
Stevie Capaldi 3 - 2 Andy Morris
Rack 6
A dry break from Morris is cleared up by Capaldi
Stevie Capaldi 4 - 2 Andy Morris
Rack 7
It's Capaldi's turn for a dry break that leaves the 9-ball hanging in the pocket. Morris pockets the 1, 2 and 3 and sets himself up for an easy 4-9 combination.
Stevie Capaldi 4 - 3 Andy Morris
Rack 8
After a good break, Morris misses the 2-ball allowing Capaldi in to clear up.
Stevie Capaldi 5 - 3 Andy Morris
Rack 9
After a good break, Capaldi tries to play a table-length bank shot on the 4-ball but misses it allowing Morris in to clear up.
Stevie Capaldi 5 - 4 Andy Morris
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Rack 10
Morris has to push out after the break. Capaldi puts him back in but Morris can only leave the 1-ball in a makable position. Capaldi takes full advantage and clears up to extend his lead.
Stevie Capaldi 6 - 4 Andy Morris
Rack 11
Capaldi has a dry break. Morris scratches on the 2-ball allowing Capaldi to clear up.
Stevie Capaldi 7 - 4 Andy Morris
Rack 12
Morris pockets 3 balls from a massive break but is forced to play safe on the 2-ball. Capaldi makes a phenominal razor-thin cut on the 2 ball and takes his chance to run the rack out and extend his lead further.
Stevie Capaldi 8 - 4 Andy Morris
Rack 13
Capaldi gets the better of the early tactical battle in this rack but then runs out of position on the 4-ball. After a good safety on the 4, Capaldi is let back in after Morris leaves him a shot but Capaldi misses the 4, leaving it safe. Morris plays a good shot putting distance between the balls but Capaldi makes what is considered to be the best shot of the match so far to pocket the 4 - jacked up at one end of the table with the 4 ball about 3 inches from the other end, Capaldi unleashes the cueball at warp speed, pocketing the 4 and getting perfect shape on the 5. Capaldi finishes off the rack to get one step closer to the title.
Stevie Capaldi 9 - 4 Andy Morris
Rack 14
After a good break from Morris, it becomes clear that the pool gods are against him in this match with an unfortunate scratch on the 1-ball. Capaldi clears up to make it onto the hill.
Stevie Capaldi 10 - 4 Andy Morris
Rack 15
Capaldi breaks off and is in first but snookers himself on the 4-ball. He tries to jump out of the problem but fouls, giving Morris ball in hand from which he clears up.
Stevie Capaldi 10 - 5 Andy Morris
Rack 16
After a dry break from Morris, Capaldi scratches on the 1-ball. Morris clears up with ball in hand to pull another rack back.
Stevie Capaldi 10 - 6 Andy Morris
Rack 17
After a good break from Capaldi, he plays a loose safety shot on the 4-ball allowing Morris to claw another rack back. Maybe the pool gods are with him after all?
Stevie Capaldi 10 - 7 Andy Morris
Rack 18
Morris unleashes a huge break, pocketing 3 balls. He runs the rack with ease but misses the 9-ball, leaving it hanging and giving Capaldi the Scottish Open title.
Final Score: Stevie Capaldi 11 - 7 Andy Morris
Stevie Capaldi, winner of the 2009 Carlsberg Scottish Open 9-Ball
Championships, recieving the trophy and his prize money from Mike Keddie of Styx
As ever, it was a great Championships and there are a number of people who need to be thanked:-
- To all the players who travelled from far and wide
- To Ross McInnes, Tam Talent and Billy Edmond for organising and running another excellent Scottish Championships
- To Carlsberg for their continued support of the Scottish Open 9-Ball Championships
- And finally, to Mario and all his staff at Styx, Kirkcaldy, for being such great hosts and putting up with us all during the weekend. As ever, they went above and beyond the call of duty and their hard work is always much appreciated by all the players.
We look forward to seeing you all next year.
You can download the tournament chart by clicking here.
SCOTTISH
OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROLL OF HONOUR
2000 |
Jimmy
Pollock |
2001 |
Geoff
Dunn |
2002 |
Geoff
Dunn |
2003 |
Geoff
Dunn |
2004 |
Michael
Valentine |
2005 |
Jayson
Shaw |
2006 |
Pat
Holtz |
2007 |
Scott
Higgins |
2008 |
Pat
Holtz |
2009 |
Stevie Capaldi |
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