Grand Final Preview - 2004-12-10 05:07:35
2004 English Professional Pool Players Tour Kentish Town, London The Grand Final of the EPPP (English Professional Pool Players) Tour will be staged at Kentish Town this weekend (11-12 December) and with double prize money at stake it could mean an early big-money Christmas present for the winner. There are also double ranking points on offer at this end-of season event so anyone in the top half of the rankings could conceivably stake a last-minute claim for a place in the coveted top 16 for next year – which brings with it the opportunity to claim professional status in the ranks of the PPPO (Professional Pool Players Organisation). The firm favourite for the event will be Cambridgeshire cueman Andy Lucas ( pictured ) who has had an exceptional year after claiming the World Professional Championships, two EPPP Tour titles and one South-East Tour title...

One of Lucas’ biggest threats for the event could be in the shape of Daniel Davy, the 17-year-old potting sensation from Reading who won the second EPPP Tour event of this year and also claimed the GLPA (Greater London Pool Association) Open last weekend (5 December) at Kentish Town. ‘I played Jordan Church in the final of the GLPA Open and won 7-2 and that was a pleasing win as he’s the Junior World Champion at World Rules so to beat him so convincingly was very pleasing,’ says Danny. ‘Sometimes I felt I could have won more in 2004 as I’ve lost out in quite a lot of semi-finals but overall I’ve had a decent year winning the GLPA Open and the second EPPP Tour event. I also won the National Federation Under-18s Championship for the second time.’ Several of the more established names in the pool world have also fallen victim to Davy’s attacking play with IPA top dog Darren Appleton and eightball veteran Keith Brewer now among the scalps hanging from Davy’s belt. So how does he fancy his chances at the EPPP Tour event at the weekend? ‘I think the obvious player to beat is Andy Lucas,’ says Davy. ‘I’ve played against Darren Appleton, Chris Melling and Mick Hill and I think Andy’s every bit as good if not better than any of them.’ ‘Rob Hill and Derek Murphy are also very hard to beat over a distance and Jimmy Carney blows a bit hot and cold but he is awesome if he’s in the mood.’ ‘I am breaking well at the moment though, and I played well at Kentish Town last weekend so I’ll just try to get through my first round and take it from there...’ And that could be bad news for everybody else in the field... The top 16 seeds for the EPPP Tour Grand Final are: Andy Lucas, Rob Hill, Wayne Camm, Paul McHale, Daniel Davy, Jimmy Carney, Aidan Finch, Derek Murphy, Pat O’Kane, Tony Batch, Matt Gooddale, John O’Donnell, Terry Elliott, Mick Mannix, Matt Inglis and Darren Baker. For more information, please check out www.englishprotour.co.uk Time Schedule Saturday E.P.P.P.T starts Saturday @ 11.00am sharp. This to be played down to Q/F 8 tables (continued Sunday 5.00pm) South England Tour Draw 3.00pm South England Tour 1st round to start at 4.00pm 8 tables (continued Sunday 11.00am) £10.00 Flyer Approx 8.30pm Flyer to be played as soon as tables are free £10.00 entry opens to all. Ladies and juniors (Under16s) £5.00 Sunday South England Tour 2nd round 11.00am Continuation of South England tour 2nd round 8 tables played down to Q/F 3.00pm plate (handicapped) £5.00 entry open to 1st and 2nd round losers S.E tour players only £250 sponsored by Tour approx £400 prize fund 5.00pm E.P.P.P.Tour Q/F South England Tour & E.P.P.P.T Dates 2005 19th – 20th March 28th - 29th May 30th – 31st July 24th – 25th September 29 – 30th November Proposed Venues to be confirmed: Kentish Town, J.F.Ks, Gangsters, Hustlers.