Victory To “The Riddler”
/Victorian player Adrian “The Riddler” Ridley has continued his good recent displays with an impressive 4-2 victory over Shawn Budd in this year’s Pot Black Open Snooker which was staged on 9th – 10th November at Blacktown Workers Club.
Ridley, the no.2 seed for the event, has been in grand form during 2013 with a highlight being his Oceania 6-Red Snooker Championship win in Port Moresby earlier this year. This victory earned him a spot representing Australia at the World 6-Red Snooker Championship held last month in Ireland where he made the semi finals. To reach this stage against some of the world’s best players was a very commendable effort and will no doubt lift his confidence levels for future big games that lie ahead.
Spectators at Blacktown Workers Club were treated to some terrific snooker throughout the two day event with the field of 58 runners providing plenty of entertainment, combining some tense safety battles with free-flowing potting. Highest break recorded was a very impressive 130 clearance by West Australian Ben Judge, which levelled up his round of 16 game at 2-2 against Robby Foldvari. Ridley was a dominant force throughout the two day event with his fluent break-building a feature. He actually recorded 15 breaks of 30+ during the tournament, the highest number of breaks by any player, with a 90 clearance against Joe Minici in the semi final being his highest. No.1 seed Steve Mifsud from Victoria is always hard to beat and was once again in good form producing 3 century breaks.
It was actually Mifsud’s round of 16 game against Denis Paul on Sunday morning that proved to be one of the best games played all weekend. Mifsud was quickly into his rhythm and took the 1st frame with a break of 108. Paul hit back with a 60 break of his own in the 2nd and then followed with a magnificent 94 clearance in the 3rd to lead 2-1. Mifsud then levelled the scores with a fine 107 to take it into the 5th and deciding frame. But Paul was undeterred and put together a 52 clearance to claim a tight last frame 54-50. A rare moment indeed to see a player record 2 centuries in a best of 5 game and still lose, but Paul played very well and confirmed his authority with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Robby Foldvari in the quarter final.
The final was also a great exhibition with Ridley continuing his earlier form and quickly establishing a 3-0 lead before Budd clawed his way back to 3-2. But Ridley regrouped and compiled a good 60 break to put the frame and overall result beyond doubt. After runner-up efforts in 2012 and 2013 Budd will be hoping to go one better next year.
This was the 3rd time in the past 4 years that the Pot Black Open has been hosted and sponsored by Blacktown Workers Club. During this time the popular club has proven to be a wonderful supporter of snooker and BSA NSW is extremely proud and appreciative of this relationship. Many thanks to the club’s Board of Directors, management, staff and members for their ongoing hospitality and highly valued support.
Gary Knight
Tournament Director
