GB 9 Ball Tour British Grand Prix - Pro Cup - Final MatchIMRAN MAJID vs. CRAIG OSBORNE
Well, if you didn't watch The Pro Cup final, you missed a real treat. It's been absolutely fascinating, from the very start, as Imran started with a 1 rack penalty for absent-mindedly practicing in-between sessions - something not permitted by GB9 rules.
The tour is run very professionally, by a committee of players, and the players understand and appreciate the rules being enforced. Held in Barcelo hotels, with specially made one piece slate SAM tables, and with referees, tournament directors, computerised live scoring, and of course, live-streaming video by CueSport.tv
In an ironic twist of fate, Imran soon made a nine ball into the side pocket on his break shot... But came a cropper of the rules again, as he didn't make three points, so the break was ruled illegal and the nine was replaced on it's spot!
Although the quality of the match wasn't the best I've seen at the start, the pockets are clearly very tight, as there are a fair few shots that miss from rattling in the pockets - is this the secret of the recent British success on the world scene?
It didn't take long for the shooting to improve, and as we approached the half way mark of the match some truly legendary shot making took place, with an inordinately high number of jump shots being played, and made successfully!
Both players have been in front, although it's been a neck and neck match through-out, as you would expect... These two players are No.1 and No.2 on the GB 9 Ball Tour rankings, and Imran is by far the most decorated player on this tour, with many wins to his name in both the Pro Cup and the GB9 Main Title events.
The informed and experienced commentary from Pete Williams from CueSport.tv was very enjoyable, and when he was joined at various times by the GB9 Ball Tour's Lee Rigby and Craig Osborne's best friend Phil Morgan the coverage became both enlightening and amusing - respectively! A great team effort and a pleasant combination of pundits.
Approaching the final stages of the match, the score was still tied at 7-7 - and still not a single break and dish in this match, but the quality has been very high towards the end of the match.
It starts getting more tense as we approach the final racks... Craig wins another rack to take the score to 8-7 in his favour in this race to nine final, and referee Mel Harley, resplendent in the now familiar GB9 yellow referee outfit, sets the balls up for Rack No.16, you can't help wondering how Imran will feel if he loses this match by one rack.
Craig Osborne does the decent thing and runs out the final balls to win by a two rack margin and takes the title... GB 9 Ball Tour British Grand Prix - Pro Cup V champion, with a 9 racks to 7 victory!
You can still buy the livestream coverage from
http://www.CueSport.tv - tomorrow starts at 10.15am UK time and will see the Main Title event played until the final match, finishing around 8pm, and don't forget, you can find a discount code at
http://www.Pro9.co.uk on the front page!