Despite my regular forays in to the world of top quality blackball pool (you may have seen the odd article – maybe not?), I was assured by the powers that be that a team event for the EBPF (English Blackball Pool Federation) would be a “new experience” – though the grin that followed did make me more than a little wary of what might or might not be just around the corner?
Sheffield and the surrounding area has always been a hot bed of snooker (the World Championships for example), so I was intrigued to head off to the Magna Centre for the Super 7’s, basically a seven man team event with a Masters singles competition running alongside, and more than enough prize money to attract the better players. One huge darkened room sat waiting with 24 tables ready for action – though sadly a visit by the Duke Of York earlier in the week had put things back a little as the electricians couldn’t get in to put the lights up – not the best of starts I suppose, but pool players seem to stick together better than most when adversity rears it’s ugly head and with the exception of the odd moan, most just went to the bar and made the most of the opportunity.
Starting late (these things happen), the singles matches got underway on the Friday evening, running on to about one in the morning before a halt was called to return at nine the next day – more than early enough for most of us I assure you. Amazingly, considering the late finish, as I walked in before nine there were already literally hundreds of players milling around waiting for access, proof positive once again that blackball pool is the way forward and growing almost as fast as most players would like it to!
A pair of live stream tables (and HD quality at that) made sure that those who prefer their pool “armchair style” could watch from home, though most of the pool world seemed here in person, and in good voice at that. Noticeably a lot louder than any of the singles events I have previously attended, cheering on a comrade can be taken to almost darts proportions with extreme banter just another part of the atmosphere, though how Tournament Director Viv Ruscoe stays so calm in the circumstances is totally beyond my short fused self. Juggling singles, team events, and so on with the well attended Ladies competitions was akin to translating the Rosetta Stone in my book, but professional throughout they forced it all to work regardless.
As if there wasn’t enough noise and excitement, the groups brought forward a blackball shoot out after two teams tied to progress, and in front of the cameras and a large crowd to boot. Long story short, they were still tied after the first round of attempts (most of them successful, I might add) until the white was moved to its spot (making life even more difficult) and resulting in a quick win for Pewter Pots over West Yorkshire … though even then, the white was left hovering over a pocket, and if I didn’t know better I would swear it was the intake of breath from the watching crowd that kept it on the surface of the table.
Moving swiftly on and a touch of controversy always adds a bit of spice to proceedings as the draw for the round robin stages pitched a few group winners from the first round in amongst each other, much to the consternation of some (and the amusement of others). That’s the way the mop flops I suppose, and to be fair they did just get on with it (all be it while muttering under their breath), though as the bar kept serving, I swear the volume of the banter and barracking went up a decibel or two?
Sunday saw the whole event start to slowly draw to its natural conclusions, but there were still more than enough twists and turns for a Murder Mystery weekend until the trophies and monies were eventually handed out – late in to the evening in the Ladies cases, and closer to midnight for the men! Essex A Towie On Tour had a weekend to remember winning the Ladies team event when defeating Bucks Bunnies in the final when led by Captain Jenny Leavens, with Sarah Trudgett, Kelly Russell, and Jess Powett completing the winning team, while Sarah also went on to take the Ladies Singles, beating Kerry-Ann Hunt (Bucks Bunnies) in the final.
The Men’s singles saw a lot more entries (hundreds), though as is often the case in most sports, the cream invariably rises to the top, and so it proved here with two of the top blackball players around in Clint I’Anson and Jason Rimington facing off in what proved to be a fascinating final. Recent IPA tour winner Jason raced in to what looked likely to be a decisive lead at 5-2 in the race to six, but World Championship runner up Clint refused to roll over, producing an amazing comeback to win 6-5 in a match that was well worth waiting for, all be it at the end of the weekend.
Finally, we ended with the showpiece event, the Super 7’s team final between Nottingham A and Redcar Alphas, with no one really sure which way this one would go until the last ball was struck. Although we all expected it would be close how close was beyond guesswork, as the best of 14 final ended seven all, and led again to the dreaded blackball shootout. I can only imagine the pressure the players must have felt at this stage (and late hour), and my heart went out to them, but long story short, and it fell to Andy Bingham to pot the winning black, crowning the Nottingham team of Captain Harvey Elmhirst, Neal Jones, Kevin Seaman, Clint I’Anson, Jason Rimington, Jon Hartley, Chris Winter, Dave Atherley, and (obviously) Andy Bingham as 2014 winners, taking with them the £3,500 first prize, and leaving Redcar (Gary Allinson, Trevor Davidson, Dan Harris, Lee Shepherd, Liam O’Neil, Daniel Hardesty, John l Stiff, and Michael Eglintine), no doubt bitterly disappointed, but with the runners up pot of £1500 to help to compensate.
So, in conclusion, not everything went as perfectly as I am sure they would have liked, but they soon recovered the situation, ended up putting on a seriously top quality tournament, and paying out some impressive prize money to some high quality players – top notch stuff and to be repeated next season with any luck – I hope to see you there?
Sean Trivass was a guest of the English Blackball Pool Federation and the IPA and would like to thank Paul Thomson, Kevin Barton, and everyone else for all their help – videos of the live streaming are available now on YouTube via the IPA Pool channel free of charge.