2005 United States National Snooker Championship final report

Alan Morris

Alan Morris

U.S. Snooker Association
Silver Member
LAI WINS SECOND AMERICAN TITLE

GEORGE Lai has recaptured the United States National Snooker Championship title with a solid 4-2 victory over defending champion Kenny Kwok in the final at the Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, California.

alanmorris_georgelai_2005uschamps02.jpg
George Lai (right) accepts the United States National Snooker Championship trophy from the
United States Snooker Association's newly elected executive director, Alan Morris.​

Lai first tasted national snooker success in 1997, and his consistent break-building form throughout this year's event helped him to regain the title despite losing heavily to Kwok in their match during the group phase.

It was imperative that Lai made a good start in the final after suffering that crushing group loss, and he comprehensively secured the first frame 64 points to 18 though Kwok hit back immediately in the next frame to level matters at one frame each.

Lai again nudged ahead after taking the third frame, but just could not shake off last year’s champion as he claimed the fourth frame helped by a break of 33.

However, Kwok, a former Asian Snooker Championship runner-up, was clearly struggling and found it hard to capture some of the fine form that eased him into the final. Too many missed balls enabled Lai to easily win the fifth frame 81 points to 13 to again go ahead at three frames to two.

final_lai_kwok_360x265.jpg
George Lai (left) and Kenny Kwok prepare to do battle for
the 2005 United States National Snooker Championship title.​

Kwok now had to somehow increase his momentum in the sixth frame, but again failed to capitalize on the chances he was presented by Lai. After moving into a 41 points to 10 lead, Lai fired in a very cool and calm break of 56 to clear the table and claim the title again that he last won eight years ago.

Lai and Kwok have insured their places on the main United States national team at next year's IBSF World Team Snooker Championships to be staged at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, California, from August 17 - 26.

The United States Snooker Association would like to thank the Embassy Billiards Club for their help and support in staging the Championship, in providing top quality snooker facilities to play on as well as adding prize money. The association would also like to extend their many thanks to the Belgian based company Saluc, who provided the Aramith Tournament Champion Pro-Cup snooker balls for this year's Championship.

QUARTERFINALS (Best of 5 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 3 - 1 Orwin Ham
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 38 – 62 2nd. 70(52) – 16 3rd. 52 – 53 4th. 71 – 28

Truman Wu (4) 3 - 1 David Chartier
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Wu's score first):
1st. 51(32) – 18 2nd. 49 – 60 3rd. 55 – 43 4th. 52 – 39

Andrew Barlow (3) 3 - 2 Ajeya Prabhakar
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Barlow's score first):
1st. 50 – 42 2nd. 55(35) – 12 3rd. 14 – 66(36) 4th. 46 – 50 5th. 43 – 23

Raymond Fung (2) 1 - 3 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Fung's score first):
1st. 34 – 75 2nd. 22 – 67(40) 3rd. 59 – 32 4th. 52 – 55


SEMIFINALS (Best of 7 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 4 - 0 Truman Wu (4)
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 65 – 48 2nd. 56 – 19 3rd. 69 – 12 4th. 83 – 16

Andrew Barlow (3) 0 - 4 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Barlow's score first):
1st. 1 – 85 2nd. 26 – 62 3rd. 47 – 69 4th. 14 – 66(35)

FINAL (Best of 7 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 2 - 4 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 18 – 64 2nd. 52 – 24 3rd. 24 – 63 4th. 64(33) – 37 5th. 13 – 81 6th. 10 – 97(56)
 
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Very nice report, and love the pictures. :)

Did the winners receive any monies, or is this a championship title event in which the winners then compete in an international event down the road?

JAM
 
Alan Morris said:
LAI WINS SECOND AMERICAN TITLE

GEORGE Lai has recaptured the United States National Snooker Championship title with a solid 4-2 victory over defending champion Kenny Kwok in the final at the Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, California.

alanmorris_georgelai_2005uschamps02.jpg
George Lai (right) accepts the United States National Snooker Championship trophy from the
United States Snooker Association's newly elected executive director, Alan Morris.​

Lai first tasted national snooker success in 1997, and his consistent break-building form throughout this year's event helped him to regain the title despite losing heavily to Kwok in their match during the group phase.

It was imperative that Lai made a good start in the final after suffering that crushing group loss, and he comprehensively secured the first frame 64 points to 18 though Kwok hit back immediately in the next frame to level matters at one frame each.

Lai again nudged ahead after taking the third frame, but just could not shake off last year’s champion as he claimed the fourth frame helped by a break of 33.

However, Kwok, a former Asian Snooker Championship runner-up, was clearly struggling and found it hard to capture some of the fine form that eased him into the final. Too many missed balls enabled Lai to easily win the fifth frame 81 points to 13 to again go ahead at three frames to two.

final_lai_kwok_360x265.jpg
George Lai (left) and Kenny Kwok prepare to do battle for
the 2005 United States National Snooker Championship title.​

Kwok now had to somehow increase his momentum in the sixth frame, but again failed to capitalize on the chances he was presented by Lai. After moving into a 41 points to 10 lead, Lai fired in a very cool and calm break of 56 to clear the table and claim the title again that he last won eight years ago.

Lai and Kwok have insured their places on the main United States national team at next year's IBSF World Team Snooker Championships to be staged at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, California, from August 17 - 26.

The United States Snooker Association would like to thank the Embassy Billiards Club for their help and support in staging the Championship, in providing top quality snooker facilities to play on as well as adding prize money. The association would also like to extend their many thanks to the Belgian based company Saluc, who provided the Aramith Tournament Champion Pro-Cup snooker balls for this year's Championship.

QUARTERFINALS (Best of 5 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 3 - 1 Orwin Ham
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 38 – 62 2nd. 70(52) – 16 3rd. 52 – 53 4th. 71 – 28

Truman Wu (4) 3 - 1 David Chartier
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Wu's score first):
1st. 51(32) – 18 2nd. 49 – 60 3rd. 55 – 43 4th. 52 – 39

Andrew Barlow (3) 3 - 2 Ajeya Prabhakar
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Barlow's score first):
1st. 50 – 42 2nd. 55(35) – 12 3rd. 14 – 66(36) 4th. 46 – 50 5th. 43 – 23

Raymond Fung (2) 1 - 3 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Fung's score first):
1st. 34 – 75 2nd. 22 – 67(40) 3rd. 59 – 32 4th. 52 – 55


SEMIFINALS (Best of 7 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 4 - 0 Truman Wu (4)
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 65 – 48 2nd. 56 – 19 3rd. 69 – 12 4th. 83 – 16

Andrew Barlow (3) 0 - 4 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Barlow's score first):
1st. 1 – 85 2nd. 26 – 62 3rd. 47 – 69 4th. 14 – 66(35)

FINAL (Best of 7 frames)

Kenny Kwok (1) 2 - 4 George Lai
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kwok's score first):
1st. 18 – 64 2nd. 52 – 24 3rd. 24 – 63 4th. 64(33) – 37 5th. 13 – 81 6th. 10 – 97(56)
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Nice post. Where is "the one" with his expert analysis of these scores? It seems like this guy won the tournament without getting a hundred points in one game, much less one run. Is that just because they all can't play?

unknownpro
 
JAM said:
... Did the winners receive any monies, or is this a championship title event in which the winners then compete in an international event down the road?

JAM
Click to expand...
The winner and runner-up normally get to go to the World Championships. Unfortunately, those are in Pakistan this year, and it was decided not to send a team. Instead, they will enter the inaugural IBSF Pairs Championship, which I think is scheduled for 2006 in Santa Clara, California.

With something like a $75 open entry to the Nationals in San Gabriel, and sponsors as scarce as closed bridges on a snooker table, the chance for cash prizes was very limited.
 
High break of 56? the last Canadian championships the high break was 137. Did they play on 6x12's.
 
kyle said:
High break of 56? the last Canadian championships the high break was 137. Did they play on 6x12's.
Click to expand...
Well, yes, they did. A couple of years ago Tang Hoa was one of the players to go to the Worlds and he was the first (and only?) US player to have a century there. Nearly all of the players in the US Championship were not US-born. The tables are UK-style with standard pockets and English cloth.
 
kyle said:
High break of 56? the last Canadian championships the high break was 137. Did they play on 6x12's.
Click to expand...

No doubt, that is some seriously weak snooker play. Back when I was playing alot of snooker I might have been able to win that US tourney and I suck compared to the truely good Canadian players.
 
Agreed, those are some pathetic snooker scores, nothing really over a century. I'm surprised actually, I have seen some of those guys play, and they looked pretty good.

On the positive side, I was over at Embassy Billiards in San Gabriel this past winter and the place ROCKS....the snooker tables there are the best kept tables, the lighting in the parlor is good, I don't believe there was smoking, and everything was very clean. They had quite a couple of Brunwicks and Oldhausens, prolly 15 in total, and about 10 snooker tables. Really classy place, but pricey at about $16 an hour!
 
unknownpro said:
Nice post. Where is "the one" with his expert analysis of these scores? It seems like this guy won the tournament without getting a hundred points in one game, much less one run. Is that just because they all can't play?

unknownpro
Click to expand...
I'm replying to my own post, because I want to say that I was trying to make a point that you don't have to run 100 in snooker in order to win games. Most times when you need to run a hundred you have already lost because their ain't likely to be a hundred points left on the table. I'm sure these guys can play and I for one was not intending to belittle their scores.

Like I said before, I've watched European ex-snooker players match up against Efren and not run 20 freakin points.

unknownpro
 
unknownpro said:
I'm replying to my own post, because I want to say that I was trying to make a point that you don't have to run 100 in snooker in order to win games. Most times when you need to run a hundred you have already lost because their ain't likely to be a hundred points left on the table. I'm sure these guys can play and I for one was not intending to belittle their scores.

Like I said before, I've watched European ex-snooker players match up against Efren and not run 20 freakin points.

unknownpro
Click to expand...


I didn't think I needed to say anything, the stats speak for themselves although others have commented. I'm sure these players are fine players and I wish then all the luck in the world. Sure you don't need to make a 100 to win a frame, but as most snooker players know the break list is usually a good indication of the quality of the tournament. I had heard that sometimes the US open has been won with a 70 highest break, I was suprised at how low it was this year though. But I hope Snooker continues to grow in the US and the standard improves.

PS
Its a shame some of those old boys in your club that make huge 70 breaks regulary didn't try there chances ;-)
 
I think everyone would score over 100 if possible any time there's a chance to do that. Running over a century must be a huge confidence builder.

Was there ever a snooker player who would simply stop his break at let's say 80 and not bother with the clearence? :D :D
 
Bob Jewett said:
...
With something like a $75 open entry to the Nationals in San Gabriel, and sponsors as scarce as closed bridges on a snooker table, the chance for cash prizes was very limited.
Click to expand...
So I asked one of the players last night about this, and the prizes for 3rd-4th were $250, so I'd imagine that 2nd was $500 and first was $1000. Some of that might be included in the trip to the IBSF Pairs Championship, which will be in San Jose in August 2006.
 
predator said:
Was there ever a snooker player who would simply stop his break at let's say 80 and not bother with the clearence? :D :D
Click to expand...

Sometimes once it is clear there are not enough points left on the table for the opponent to be able to win a frame he will throw in the towel rather sitting and watch the rest of the break. Generally however if a player has begun a break with almost all the balls are on the table and is in good position when they reach around 60 points they'll keep shooting trying to get at least a century if they can. In pro tournaments in the UK this is what the audience have come to see and the opponent will not usually bother to stop them. (I'm not sure if there are any rules governing this.)

However in a tournament with little or no audience to entertain I can see a lot of frames being decided in under 100 points simply because players don't feel they need to bother finishing breaks.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The applicable rule is listed on the IBSF web site:
http://www.ibsf.org/rules/snooker4.php#4_6
"A player may concede only when he is the striker. ..."
Click to expand...

Was going to say its the height of bad manners to concede on your opponents shot let alone if he was in the middle of the break! Not much of an excuse for the lack of centuries, but still doesnt mean theyre bad players.
 
great report,congtats to LAI and KWOK,its to bad the ibsf is almost always held somwhere where snooker don't really matter,the winners should have a shot at playing in england where the action is and maybe learn somthing to better his game,at least if your out of the tournament you get to watch world class snooker.
sly
quick question, does anybody know what color you can pot 3 times in a row without a foul being committed? and how?
thanks
 
sly said:
great report,congtats to LAI and KWOK,its to bad the ibsf is almost always held somwhere where snooker don't really matter,the winners should have a shot at playing in england where the action is and maybe learn somthing to better his game,at least if your out of the tournament you get to watch world class snooker.
sly
quick question, does anybody know what color you can pot 3 times in a row without a foul being committed? and how?
thanks
Click to expand...


The yellow.

A few years ago, Tom Kollins from Illinois won this tournament and ran something like 126 in the final game of the tournament. I believe that still stands as the record for the US championships.
 
TheOne said:
I didn't think I needed to say anything, the stats speak for themselves although others have commented. I'm sure these players are fine players and I wish then all the luck in the world. Sure you don't need to make a 100 to win a frame, but as most snooker players know the break list is usually a good indication of the quality of the tournament. I had heard that sometimes the US open has been won with a 70 highest break, I was suprised at how low it was this year though. But I hope Snooker continues to grow in the US and the standard improves.

PS
Its a shame some of those old boys in your club that make huge 70 breaks regulary didn't try there chances ;-)
Click to expand...
In the regular old American Snooker rules that we always played by, a foul of any kind during your run forfeits all the points from that run, plus a penalty. So if you run a 100 and scratch you are now in the hole. That's one reason we didn't run 100's regularly, you can't just wing the balls around the table all the time. We also had to hit a rail after contact.

I am talking about a very tight tables where there is no chance whatsoever to run a ball down a rail more than one diamond at any speed, and more than half the rails cannot be run at all. Maybe you could run a 147 on that equipment, I'd like to see it. I have seen totally unknown American players run 100's on those tables, teenagers even, but most runs were indeed stopped by the opponent throwing balls on the table so they can start the next game.

unknownpro
 
unknownpro said:
In the regular old American Snooker rules that we always played by, a foul of any kind during your run forfeits all the points from that run, plus a penalty. So if you run a 100 and scratch you are now in the hole. That's one reason we didn't run 100's regularly, you can't just wing the balls around the table all the time. We also had to hit a rail after contact.

I am talking about a very tight tables where there is no chance whatsoever to run a ball down a rail more than one diamond at any speed, and more than half the rails cannot be run at all. Maybe you could run a 147 on that equipment, I'd like to see it. I have seen totally unknown American players run 100's on those tables, teenagers even, but most runs were indeed stopped by the opponent throwing balls on the table so they can start the next game.

unknownpro
Click to expand...

what makes you think that, Ive never run a 147 on any table, my highest is sadly only 139 clearance :(

I know one thing though the pro table in my home town that the pros practice on is set up tighter than any table Ive ever seen. Most people would struggle to pot the cueball down the rail and the pros used to pot the reds downt he rail with pace like it was so easy. But then when two of them where ex top ten in the world and another couple are top 50 I guess thats why!
 
AuntyDan said:
Sometimes once it is clear there are not enough points left on the table for the opponent to be able to win a frame he will throw in the towel rather sitting and watch the rest of the break. Generally however if a player has begun a break with almost all the balls are on the table and is in good position when they reach around 60 points they'll keep shooting trying to get at least a century if they can. In pro tournaments in the UK this is what the audience have come to see and the opponent will not usually bother to stop them. (I'm not sure if there are any rules governing this.)

However in a tournament with little or no audience to entertain I can see a lot of frames being decided in under 100 points simply because players don't feel they need to bother finishing breaks.
Click to expand...

In many pro tournaments there is a bonus prize for the high break. So there's often money on the line, even though the frame may have been over for all intents and purposes in the middle of the break.

I also agree with TheOne that a tournaments high break numbers are a reasonable indicator of the fields overall quality.

Dave
 
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