Causier Crowned English Open Champion
David Causier made it back-to-back victories on the World Billiards circuit after winning the English Open this past weekend in Reading.
The Crucible Sports and Social Club was the new host venue for the level 3 world ranking event that featured a field of nearly 50 players. Action was livestreamed throughout the weekend on the World Billiards YouTube channel via TYPLive.
Fresh from his triumph at the Jim Williamson Open last month in Leeds, former world champion Causier remained undefeated on his way to the title.
Causier made nine century breaks – three of those being double centuries – as he won all three round robin matches to finish top of his group and qualify for the knockout phase.
The Teesider then crafted efforts of 374 and 187 as he dispatched Graham Ward 752-60 in the last 16 before a 464-191 success over Mark Hirst in the quarter-finals.
Causier registered a run of 135 during his closest finish yet as he eliminated Jonathan Marwood in the last four, although the 481-332 result was still a comfortable margin of victory.
In the final he faced 2018 champion and fellow Englishman Rob Hall, who had dethroned the defending champion and current world champion and number one Peter Gilchrist 515-357 in the other semi-final tie.
There was a cagey start to the 90-minute title match but Causier eventually established a lead following a break of 152.
Causier maintained a healthy advantage but an effort of 168 from Hall – the highest of the match – got him back into contention, although it wasn’t quite enough as Causier won with change to spare in a 477-304 scoreline.
The win means Causier regains the title he last claimed in 2016 following a four-year domination of the event from 2013.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Gilchrist banked the high break prize courtesy of a 412 he crafted during the last eight, and David Gillingham defeated Steve Allen 175-102 in the final to win the English Open Challenge Cup.
Reigning world women’s champion Anna Lynch from Australia won two matches in the groups stage to qualify for the knockouts where she bowed out to Hirst.
The next action on the World Billiards scene comes in October with the Women’s Irish Open and Women’s English Opens taking place on the 2nd and 10th respectively before the Welsh Open at the Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli between the 16th-17th.
