Kelly Fisher, Gareth Potts win Heyball world titles in Pune
British cueists Kelly Fisher and Gareth Potts retained their titles at the $400,000 Apex Sports 3rd Heyball World Championships in Pune. Fisher beat Waratthanun Sukritthanes in a shootout, while Potts defeated Jordan Shepherd 7-4 in the final
Hyderabad: Dominant British cueists Kelly Fisher and Gareth Potts came up with a brilliant display to retain their titles at the $400,000 Apex Sports 3rd Heyball World Championships in Pune on Saturday.
While Fisher fended off a late fightback from challenger Waratthanun Sukritthanes of Thailand in a thrilling shootout for the women’s crown, Potts outclassed the hitherto unbeaten Jordan Shepherd 7-4 in the men’s final.
Fisher, a cue sports legend, clinched the shootout 5-3 after a 5-5 tie in regulation time during Saturday’s race-to-6 title clash at the Rajan Khinvasara Billiards and Snooker Academy, located inside the Jairaj Sports & Convention Centre.
Fisher gifted herself an early birthday present. The British cueist, who turns 48 in ten days, was in top form from the get-go. She capitalised on Sukritthanes’ errors to run up a quick 3-0 lead and seemed to be running away with the title.
Fisher regrouped in the shootout, potting all five of her attempts to her rival’s three to take home the winner’s cheque of $30,000.
Later, Potts, who came through the losers’ bracket following a loss to Tobias Bongers, was in a different zone altogether. Fortunately for him, Shepherd, who ousted fancied Jack Whelan in the semi-finals, failed to get going in the all-important clash.
Defending champion Potts, a four-time World Pool champion, called the shots from the beginning. After being tied 3-3, he shifted gears to leave his rival, who was coming off an International Heyball Open triumph earlier this month, gasping in his wake.
Late on Friday, the Indian challenge ended with the defeats of Laxman Rawat and Varshaa Sanjeev. While Rawat, playing his fourth match of the day, lost 2-7 to Whelan, Varshaa gave women’s second seed Wendy Jans a fright before falling 3-6.
Results:
Men:
Final: Gareth Potts (GBR) bt Jordan Shepherd (GBR) 7-4.
Semis: Potts bt Anderson David (RSA) 7-5; Shepherd bt Jack Whelan (GBR) 7-2.
Women:
Final: Kelly Fisher (GBR) bt Waratthanun Sukritthanes (Thai) 5-5 (5-3 shootout).
Semis: Fisher bt Yu-Hsuan Fan (Tpe) 6-2; Sukritthanes bt Diana Khodjaeva (Bel) 6-3.