2009 ACTEBA Open Doubles Champions
Tony Fleming & Steven Woods
Congratulations to Tony & Steve on their 4th Doubles title as a pair, making them most prolific doubles pair past Frank Frezza & Bob Northover. This is Steve’s 5th doubles title, moving him past Frank and Clive Hardisty, who have both won 4 each.Steve was a late replacement as Tony’s partner, but was obviously a good choice, as the pair topped their group in Rounds 1 and 2, before qualifying 2nd in Round 3.
The pairs began at 10.30 on the Saturday, with the Top 8 to be run over 3 rounds as per the initial rounds. The other qualifiers were defending champions Anthony Chia & Colin Gamble, Dean Welsh & Phil Bailey, Michael Hazilias & Rony Sood, Mongrel & Mick Norton, John “JR” Pagden & Sid Scott, Daniel Sostarko & James Southwell and Alessandro Nasca & Dragan Markovic. The Top 4 at the end of day were to meet again the next day in a round robin for the title.
Round 1 started particularly tight, though 3 pairs got the jump on the rest, with Hazza & Rony, Mongrel & Mick and Tony & Steve nabbing 5 wins each. The remaining 5 pairs all grabbed either 2 or 3 wins.
A second round whitewash by Anthony & Colin thrust them right to the top of the leaderboard with 10 wins. Steady rounds from the early leaders left Hazza & Rony and Mongrel and Mick on 8 apiece, while Tony & Steve managed only 2 wins to leave them in equal 4th with Dean & Phil (2, 5) and Alessandro & Dragan (3, 4). JR & Sid sat one frame further back on 6, while Daniel & James were unable to nab a win in the second round and seemed gone with only 3 wins so far.
With 7 pairs still in the running for the Top 4 round 3 was going to be a good one. Things certainly evened out as Anthony & Colin tipped the balance by losing their first 6 frames, bringing them right into the middle of the pack again. Hazza & Rony rounded out a consistent day to hit 5 wins and finish 1st on 13 wins, while at the other end Daniel & James notched 3 to finish in last place on 6 wins. Tony & Steve finished early with 12 wins, but this could not assure them of missing a playoff, while Dean & Phil were hoping a few pairs finished poorly, so their 10 wins would see them through. JR & Sid were a frame back, but 9 never looked likely to make it through and they were consigned to 7th.
As Anthony & Colin continued to slide down the ladder, Alessandro & Dragan and Mongrel & Mick couldn’t break free of the other as the race for 4th tightened. The last two frames commenced with the two pairs locked in equal 3rd on 11 wins, with Anthony & Colin one frame back and needing to win their last of the day to meet the loser of the other match in a playoff.
Anthony & Colin did just that and Mongrel & Mick jumped into equal 2nd, leaving Alessandro & Dragan to the playoff. With scores locked at one each in the race to 2, Alessandro played a good final ball to leave himself with a shot along the back rail for the win. The ball rattled off both jaws before sitting neatly for Anthony to finish the match and qualify for the top 4, their perfect 2nd round saving them after a near disastrous final round.
The Top 4 resumed play on the Sunday with a round robin of race to 4, followed by a final of race to 6. Normally doubles is a more cautious, defensive game, and with the State Title at stake these games proved even more so.
Anthony & Colin started the day better than they finished the last, with a 4-0 victory over Hazza & Rony, the frames much tighter than the final score suggests. Mongrel & Mick took on Tony & Steve in the first round, the match starting with 3 master breaks, one each from Steve, Mongrel and Tony, before the defence set in on the 4th frame. The two pairs went frame for frame before Mongrel & Mick took the last 2 to triumph 4-3.
The two winning pairs played next, with a seesawing match see Mongrel & Mick lead 2-1, then 3-2, before Anthony & Colin returned the favour and won the last 2 to take it 4-3. Steve was started to hit form in the other match, as he and Tony ran out 4-0 despite Hazza & Rony’s best efforts. This all but consigned Hazza & Rony to 4th place, but their last match could still decide the makeup of the final.
With two wins under their belt, Anthony & Colin still needed to play well in their last match to avoid being knocked out on frame percentage. Mongrel & Mick and Tony & Steve both needed victories, but Tony & Steve held the advantage on frame percentage, with a 7/4 record against 7/7 for Mongrel & Mick.
Tony & Steve took the first frame against Anthony & Colin, but the 2008 Champs fought back to 2-1, giving them a win/loss of 10/4, almost enough. The pairs swapped the next two frames, all but giving Anthony & Colin a spot in the final, but Tony & Steve took the last frame to finish on 2 match wins and the same win/loss as the others, 11/7.
Mongrel & Mick needed to win 4-0 against Hazza & Rony, but went down 0-1 in the first frame. They then had to hope Steve & Tony were losing on the other table as they went 2-1 up before running winners 4-2, leaving them with 2 match wins but a 11/9 win/loss count and 3rd place after the other pair’s victory.
And so it came down to the final, with the defending champions taking on the 3 time champions.
Tony & Steve got off to 1-0 lead, before being pegged back to 1-2. This was as close as it would get, though, as Tony & Steve won the next 4 frames for a 5-2 lead before taking the title 6-3.
While Tony celebrated his 4th State Doubles Title, this was Steve’s 5th and his 9th overall, including 4 singles titles (as well as 5 Nine Ball wins). It was a fitting return after 2008 was the first year since 2000 that Steve hadn’t won an ACTEBA title. Tony’s win takes redemption for his loss in the 08 Singles Final.
Well played to all the players in this years Top 8, as well as to the 140 other players who didn’t make it as far. All reports were of a great tournament with some good eight ball and good days had by many.
Thank you very much to our hosts this year, Canberra Labor Club, The Basement and The Maram, without your assistance our tournaments could not go ahead. The same must be said for the adjudicators, who are of great assistance each and every tournament.
I will see you all in two weeks for the 9 Ball!
Regards
Chris Jones
ACTEBA Tournament Director