Causier is the Champion in Leeds
David Causier defeated Peter Gilchrist 616-438 in the final of the 2024 Jim Williamson Open to win the first title of the new World Billiards season.
Victory over the reigning world champion at the Northern Snooker Centre earned Causier his sixth ranking event crown of the year in an event where he also compiled his highest ever competitive break of 842.
A total of 79 cueists embarked on Leeds for the level three world ranking event which is named in honour of Jim Williamson, a Billiards ambassador and enthusiast who founded the Northern Snooker Centre in 1974.
Causier dominated the initial group phase with a clean sweep of victories and an aggregate scoreline of 3,112-209 across his four first round contests.
Victories over Ian Dennis, Chris Coumbe and Robert Marshall then saw the second seed set up a meeting with reigning English Billiards national champion Rob Hall in the last four.
A dream start for Causier saw him compile a break of 842, his highest ever in competitive play, early in the match and there was no way back for Hall as Causier ran out a 1,293-108 winner.
Gilchrist, who had defeated Causier in the World Championship final last year, would once again be his opponent in the final after the cueist representing Singapore defeated Wayne Doyle, Darren Clark, Christian Kirk and Peter Sheehan in the knockout stages.
The final was a closely-fought contest with both players compiling a break over 200 during the match. Holding a slender 39 point lead as the match began to head towards a conclusion, Causier was able to get in and offer an unfinished contribution of 139 to secure a 616-483 victory and lift the title in Leeds.
