First winner’s trophy is music to Chappell’s ears
A TOUCH of classical music inspired Bournemouth snooker ace Bradley Chappell to deliver a virtuoso performance in a regional tour final.
Chappell (pictured left) revealed that after playing “absolutely rubbish” in the fifth leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour, an earful of Richard and Adam singing Bring Him Home lifted his game.
The 19-year-old, based at Greenbaize Snooker Club, “limped” through the round-robin group stages at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club and accounted for Connor McLean (Hailsham Memorial Institute, East Sussex) 2-0 in the last-four.
But he credited the Britain’s Got Talent finalists for his 2-0 victory over first-time finalist Dean Matthews (Crucible, Newbury) that delivered a first winner’s trophy.
“I just didn’t miss any balls at all,” he said. “I played my safety game absolutely perfect, put him on the top cushion every time.
“I found some form from somewhere. I was playing absolutely rubbish all day long. I just limped through the group stage. I went outside and listened to a bit of music.
“I approached the balls differently, my mind was different, I changed my cueing, I changed my stance. Just changed everything about my game. It seems to have worked.”
And Chappell is hoping to see Welsh brothers Richard and Adam when they appear in his home town on February 28.
The teenager made his Gold Tour debut in October, 2009, but missed the whole of last season. He was runner-up on his return to the circuit on home tables last month. The Chandler’s Ford event was his 11th outing.
Numbers were depleted as many were in action in Cambridge on the EASB Regional Junior Tour South.
The sixth leg of eight is at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, on Sunday, March 2.
BREAKS
Cameron Holt: 49.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP: 1st, James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Connor McLean (Hailsham Memorial Institute, East Sussex); 3rd, Bradley Chappell (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Dean Matthews (Crucible, Newbury); 5th, Cameron Holt (Liberal Club, High Wycombe).
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Matthews beat Budd 2-1, Chappell beat McLean 2-0.
FINAL (£15/£10, 25/18 points): Chappell beat Matthews 2-0.
Picture by Tim Dunkley