OK quick one, just watching Darren Appleton playing Fabio now in the semi, Appleton was winning 5:1 and looking like he would run away with it but its now 6:3 with fabio at the table. NVB in the other semi, I think Appleton will prob make it and play Nick in the final, not bad for his first Euro tour event, like I said before watch out for Daz on the IPT, 8 ball is his proper game!
EDIT: Darren won as predicted 9:5 I think?
I was lucky enough to win my first 3 on the winners side, with my best result against NVB. This match was quite close all the way up to 6:6 with quite a lot of break and runs from both of us. Then Nick went 8:6 up, I got a break in the next and then ran out to make it 8:8. Sadly Nick had won the lag so I had to sit and watch as he made a ball on the break and had what looked like an easy run out. Luckily for me hs finished straight on a 4 ball in the side an have to leave a slightly tougher shot on the 5 which he over cut. I ran out the rack for the win.
Of course since it was my mates bday and I had gained 3 hours extra sleeping time by beating NVB we hit the town to celebrate. -9 and thick snow everywhere but probably had a few too many and got to sleep around 430 (yes sjm I know!
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The next day I of course struggled badly, in my first match I came back from 6:3 down to win 9:7 against a decent czech player. Next I played Mick Hill and played so bad in the first 6 frames I actually considered quiting for the first time ever it was that bad! Hung in there and although didnt get too many rolls I didnt deserve to win and eventually lost 9:6.
I was supposed to play NVB for the second time at 9pm but the losers side was going very slowly and I didn't actually start playing until 11pm! Again I started poorly, missed a 9 ball and a few other easy balls to go 5:1 down. Every other match had finished and it was very late but I tried to hang in there as I didn't want to get thrashed and go out like that. Nick made a couple of mistakes and I took advantage to claw my way back to 6:6. The next frame probably lost me the match, I had done all the hard work and had a simply 7 ball into the side. I had to roll it slow and pinch the pocket a little to hold for the 8, it seemed to turn slightly but I missed it to go 7:6 down instead of in front for the first time. NVB broke and ran the next as did I to keep the pressure on at 8:7 but sadly Nick didn't repeat his mistake from our first match and he broke and ran the last for the win. Although to be honest I probably lost the match in the early racks as you can't give a class player like NVB a 5:1 start at alt break format and hope to still win very often.
I came to Prague half for a holiday and half for pool so didn't take it too seriously but it was good to play comp again for the first time since the US Open back in Sept. It was also good to play NVb since he had a great year last year and also looks like he might win the whole event after thrashing the inform Souqet too. Also good to run him so close, although with two chances Im a bit dissapointed not to make the last 32 atleast.
I think NVB will make the final and although I would like to see fellow brit Darren win it I wouldn't mind being the only one to have beating NVB in Prague hehe
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