Mick Hill wins GB9 UK Open

Dec 4, 2013

Mick Hill became the first ever winner of the GB9 UK Open on Tuesday, as he beat Phil Burford 11-7. Hill recovered from a shaky start to clinch the title, in a final in which neither player really got going. The event was at its best from the quarter-finals after a move to the main tables.
Phil Burford
Burford comfortably dispatched of Shaun Storry 10-1 and Ruslan Chinahov advanced over Juan Carlos Exposito, winning six consecutive racks to romp to a 10-4 victory. The best games of the round were undoubtedly on tables one and two. Kev Simpson and Michael Valentine shared an 18-rack thriller, as Valentine just edged out Simpson to win 10-8. On the hill at 9-7, Valentine kissed off the 9 ball after potting the 8 and had to try to run the 9 all the way up table. He missed, and Simpson stepped in to make it 9-8. After a long exchange of safeties in the final rack, Simpson missed a straight 8 and Valentine stepped in to finally clinch the match.
Mick Hill and Benji Buckley’s match was even tighter, as the pair went hill-hill. The final rack epitomised the whole match, taking twists and turns aplenty, each player gaining and then relinquishing the advantage. A lax safety from Buckley gave Hill an opportunity. However, a lazy positional shot on the 5 meant no clear shot at the 6 and let Buckley back to the table. Buckley’s long pot on the 6 left him snookered on the 7 though and Hill stepped in to clear up.
The drama continued into the semi-finals. Burford raced into a 7-0 lead over Ruslan Chinahov and when the Russian scratched off the 5, a whitewash looked all the more inevitable.  The Darlington man then went to the hill with a break and run. However, a dry break from Burford in the next allowed Chinahov to the table. He showed good character to run out and grabbed what looked like a consolation rack. He then cleared another table. 9-2. And another one. 9-3. Golden break. 9-4. Burford then missed a regulation nine for the match and the impossible began to look all the more probable. 9-5. Chinahov broke and ran. 9-6. Chinahov broke and ran again. 9-7. Chinahov’s momentum was finally halted though, as he missed a 3 and Burford cleared up to clinch the game 10-7.
The other semi-final was just as thrilling as the man with possibly the most appropriate name in world pool, Mick Hill, again went hill-hill. Momentum swung from player to player, again. Hill missed a bank shot on the 1 before Valentine scratched on the 2. However, Hill overran the cue ball for position on the 3. As a result, he had to hit the shot a lot harder than he would have wanted and the pocket rejected it. Valentine couldn’t capitalise though and Hill secured his place in the final.
Mick Hill
The final was, unfortunately, a much less exciting affair. It was a cautious start and neither player played with much fluency. With Burford 4-1 up, a bad positional shot on the 8 let Hill to the table. Hill made the most of his opportunity as he advanced to an 8-5 lead. Burford then missed his chance as he scratched off the 4 and Hill extended his lead. A missed 3 by Hill allowed Burford to drag himself back within touching distance at 9-7. However, an illegal break allowed Hill to play a good safety and when Burford fouled, Hill made no mistakes. Hill then cleared up in the final rack to stutter over the line and win the final 11-7.