2023 World Billiards Championship – Day One Report
The 2023 World Billiards Championship got underway on Monday at the Landywood Snooker Club in Great Wyrley and the sport’s biggest names all made ideal starts.
- 2023 World Billiards Championship Preview/Information
- 2023 World Billiards Championship Draw/Results
Reigning champion David Causier – fresh from his English Open victory at the weekend – is looking to successfully defend the blue riband event for the first time in his career.
The 50-year-old won both his matches on the opening day against Grant Hayward and Alex Donne. In his tie with Hayward, Causier constructed a break of 313.
World number one and four-time world champion Peter Gilchrist finished with three wins out of three and set an early benchmark for the tournament’s high break prize when he crafted a contribution of 399 during his encounter with Martin Gawthrop.
Belgian Open champion Rob Hall and Jim Williamson Open champion Peter Sheehan – both of whom are aiming to claim this title for the first time – also made 100% starts.
Martin Goodwill (fifth seed), Darren Clark (sixth seed), Jonathan Marwood (seventh seed), Chris Coumbe (ninth seed) and Gary Norman (tenth seed) all sit top of their respective groups with perfect records.
A plethora of century breaks were made throughout the day with nine different cueists totting up three-figure efforts.
The groups stage is set to finish on Tuesday with the start of the subsequent knockout rounds for those who qualify taking place in the late afternoon and early evening with the last 32 and 16.
Livestream coverage of the feature table is available across the event on World Billiards’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.
