Oops… I managed to win again
JOHN Hunter avenged his earlier defeat by former professional Mike Talmondt in emphatic style to claim the second leg of the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour.
The 48-year-old from Andover, who also won the season opener at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club last month, compiled a 71 break in a one-frame final shootout to secure maximum points.
Former Portsmouth champion Talmondt, a pro in the 1990s, dispatched Hunter 2-1 in their round-robin group at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and agreed to split the £140 prize money when the pair met again in the final.
“I managed to win again,” Hunter understated.
“Mike beat me in the group stages. He’s a very good player and plays the right shots.”
Hunter said it was “fantastic” to see a 23-strong field following the record 30 at Chandler’s Ford.
Talmondt accounted for Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2-1 in the semi-finals, a reverse of their first-leg encounter.
Martin Wallace dropped just one frame in five group matches and a quarter-final clash with Martin Hill (Salisbury SC) before going out to Hunter in the last-four.
According to Cuestars records, home player Alan Thomas’s 46 break was his highest in competition.
Not to be outdone, Paul Rose, also from Jesters, managed a 36 and Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) weighed in with a 23.
The third leg of six is at Salisbury Snooker Club on Sunday, January 25.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 82, 71, 61.
Nick Birney: 79, 50.
David Farmer: 69.
Martin Hill: 68, 45.
Wayne Muddiman: 61, 58.
Paul Bateman: 61.
Mike Talmondt: 54, 42.
Alan Thomas: 46.
Neil Herd: 45.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Martin Hill (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Stephen Hills (Traders, Northfleet); 6th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, Mike Talmondt (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, David Farmer (No club); 4th, Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 5th, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 6th, Mark Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
GROUP C: 1st, Alex Thorn (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Jasbir Bansal (Woking SC); 3rd, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Jon Walker (Potting Shed, Aldbourne); 5th, David Volante (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP D: 1st, Martin Wallace (Crowthorne RBL); 2nd, Paul Bateman (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 4th, Neil Herd (Frome, Somerset); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 6th, Peter Chin (Woking SC).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 12 pts): Talmondt beat Bansal 2-0, Birney beat Bateman 2-1, Hunter beat Thorn 2-0, Wallace beat Hill 2-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£25, 15 pts): Talmondt beat Birney 2-1, Hunter beat Wallace 2-0.
FINAL (£100/£40 25/18 pts): Hunter beat Talmondt 1-0.
Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.