Gold winner Chappell pays tribute to “outstanding” opponent
POOLE potter Bradley Chappell praised the sportsmanship of his “outstanding” final opponent after claiming back-to-back winner’s trophies on a regional snooker circuit.
The 19-year-old (pictured left) followed up his success at the fifth leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour at Chandler’s Ford last month with a hard-fought victory at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
Speaking after edging Ollie Parsons 3-2 in the final, Chappell likened the home player to Welsh Open champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“I could not believe what he was doing against me,” he declared.
“He was playing very close to Ronnie O’Sullivan, just strolling round the table very quickly and potting anything he went for. He looked unbeatable.
“I went 2-1 down and felt like I was down and out and had no way back.”
Chappell squared the match on the pink following a bad safety shot from Parsons but, struggling with back pain, he requested an interval before the decider.
“I must have just slept funny,” he said. “I asked for a five-minute break and Ollie kindly accepted.
“I came back and felt like a different player. I can’t credit Ollie any more for the way he played. He was outstanding.”
Chappell, who is based at the Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, had defeated Sonnie O’Sullivan (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 3-1 in the semi-finals.
“After not playing him for six years, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.
“I managed to pull together some form and beat him 3-1. I had to change from a potting game to a lot of safety play to keep him from not potting and I took my chances when I could.”
Just three points separate the top three with two events left. Rankings leader Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport) was beaten 3-1 by Parsons in the last-four.
Chappell and Lloyd’s clubmate James Budd are joint second.
The seventh leg of eight is at Fareham Snooker Club on Sunday, April 6.
BREAKS
Ollie Parsons: 52.
Bradley Chappell: 46, 41.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Bradley Chappell (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Daniel Knox (Woking SC); 4th, Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Sam Storey (Crucible, Newbury).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Sonnie O’Sullivan (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Ollie Parsons (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 4th, Cameron Holt (Liberal Club, High Wycombe).
SEMI-FINALS (£5, 15 points): Parsons beat Lloyd 3-1, Chappell beat O’Sullivan 3-1.
FINAL (£15/£10, 25/18 points): Chappell beat Parsons 3-2.