World  Champion  Gareth  Potts  Crowned

2008  Ireland’s Pro-Am  Champion

2008 Ireland's Invitation 8Ball Pro-Am Pool Classic Champion Gareth Potts.

A fantastic weekend of top class pool came to a end at Ireland’s Invitation 8-Ball Pro-Am Pool Classic in the little town of Kesh in Co. Fermanagh which seen the current World 8-Ball Pool Champion Gareth Potts crowned champion receiving the first prize of £2,500 and the beautiful crystal trophy for his efforts defeating Mick Hill in a classic final on a 10-9 score-line which when right down to the wire, keeping the large crowd of spectators on the edge of their seats with the high drama in the deciding frame.

The return of this popular Irish Pro-Am after a few years absent proved once again its one of the best, and enjoyable weekends on the pool calendar which brings all of the world’s top players together from both pool bodies mixing and displaying their skills on the green baize for the large turnout of spectators who turned up over the weekend.

The following 16 players was given a group seed in the 2008 Ireland's Invitation 8Ball Pro-Am Pool Classic:

Mark Selby, Stephen Dempsey, Manny Byrne, Jason Twist, Pat O' Kane, Pat Holtz, Alan Mc Bennett,
Barry Hough, Jason Shaw, David Mc Quillan, Ronan Mc Carthy, Sean Conway.

Gareth Potts, Ross Mc Innes, Darren Appleton, Mick Hill.

The tournament in general, spectators and the organisers was also blessed with the entry of the current World Masters and Welsh Snooker Champion Mark Selby who played outstanding pool topping his group with four wins out of four to progress to the knockout stages (last-32) only to be defeated by Ireland’s world junior 8ball champion Sean Conway from Co. Mayo who played awesome pool to defeat Mark 8-4 in the last-32, but come Sunday evening it was only one player everyone was speaking about and that was the 2008 champion Gareth Potts.

Right from the start the current world champion was in tremendous form topping his group on Saturday evening with four wins out of four over Aiden Finch (England, 4-1), Charlie Hanlon (Meath, 4-0), Raymond Todd (Tyrone, 4-2) and J P Cunningham (Wicklow, 4-0) to qualify for the last-32 knockout stages.

The four semi-finals pictured before play Gareth Potts, Darren Appleton, Mick Hill, Gavin Geraghty.

In the last-32 Gareth kept up his good run of form but the matches was starting to get tougher round by round but the world champion just took it in his stride to record victories over Brendan Mc Donagh (Tyrone, 8-6, last-32), Scott Ross (Scotland, 8-5, last-16), Jason Shaw (Scotland, 8-4, ¼-finals), Darren Appleton (England, 9-4, semi-finals) to reach the final for the first time at Ireland’s Invitation 8Ball Pro-Am Pool Classic..

In the final Gareth would come up against the 2004 World Champion Mick Hill who was also playing fabulous pool throughout the tournament topping his group on Saturday evening winning all his matches and from the last-32 defeating top class players along the way to reach his second final at Ireland’s Invitation 8Ball Pro-Am trying to go one better than last time where he lost to Scotland’s Ross Mc Innes 10-9..

On route to the final Mick defeated Sean Hoey (Down, 8-4, last-32), Gareth Quinn (Tyrone, 8-1, last-16), Jason Twist (England, 8-6, ¼-finals), Gavin Geraghty (Meath, 9-6, semi-finals).

Final:

The final seen both players Gareth Potts and Mick Hill coming to the table in top class form breaking and finishing frame by frame with both players giving the large crowd great entertainment in this high class match but when it reached 9-9 the last frame turned into a safety battle which seen the world champion coming out on top on this occasion to be crowned 2008 champion and put himself into Ireland’s roll of honour list with past champions Jason Twist, Ross Mc Innes and Darren Appleton.

2008 Ireland's Invitation 8Ball Pro-Am Pool Classic Champion Gareth Potts
pictured receiving his trophy from the Lough Erne Hotel hosts
and the main sponsors Ivan and Sam Job

The organisers would like to take this opportunity in thanking all the sponsors, players including all the world professionals, spectators, table fitter Damien Corrigan, all the helpers, MC John Magee, the local and national press who covered the event, all pool websites and last but no way lease to Ivan and Sam Job of the host venue Lough Erne Hotel and their hard working staff for the tremendous hospitality they give to each and every player over this great and enjoyable weekend.

NOTE:

More photo’s from the event can be viewed shortly by clicking on photo gallery on the following website www.rballsports.com

Results: