(The line-up for the Belgian Open Semi-Finals)
Belgian Open Champion: David Causier
Runner Up: Rob Hall
Causier won his sixth World Billiards ranking title of the season after victory at the Belgian Open in Bruges last weekend.
Following on from his triumph in the World Matchplay Championship last month in Ireland, the world number one went undefeated at The Trickshot venue in the Level 3 event.
Causier topped his group with a 100% record to qualify for the knockout rounds. During that opening phase he was in imperious heavy-scoring form, rattling in 12 three-figure contributions, including a hat-trick of double-centuries (207, 270, 293) and two triple-centuries (314, 315). That latter effort stood as the tournament’s highest.
As one of the best group winners, Causier avoided the preliminary knockout round and recommenced his campaign with a resounding 1087-102 victory over Chris Mitchell where he continued to record a barrage of breaks with runs of 311, 187, 140 and a 212 unfinished.
In the semi-finals he ended the challenge of recent Jersey Open champion Darren Clark 963-168 with a top effort of 299 and three other centuries.
The final would be a meeting between the competition’s top two seeds as the in-form Rob Hall made it through.
In recent weeks, Hall has claimed both the EPSB English national championship and the world ranked Irish Open. He booked a berth in the title match here after a 489-218 win over Martin Goodwill.
An intriguing all-English final, revenge may have been on the mind of Causier having lost to Hall in the semi-finals of the aforementioned Irish Open; a loss which ended his long undefeated record on tour stretching back to 2019.
Causier was relentless in his pursuit of the title, chalking up contributions of 104, 193, 208, 208 and 113 in a comfortable 849-332 victory.
In the Belgian Open Challenge Cup – for those that did not qualify for the knockouts – it was an all-Scottish final which saw Paul McGowan defeat compatriot David Stone 323-246.
This event is followed by the Level 5 European Open which takes place at the same venue.
Report published by the WPBSA.
You can see a full list of the results & breaks here.
(The line-up for the European Open Quarter-Finals)
European Open Champion: David Causier
Runner Up: Martin Goodwill
David Causier completed a brilliant title double at the Trickshot in Bruges as he defended the European Open just days after winning the Belgian Open at the same venue.
The world number one has enjoyed a remarkable season; this latest triumph represents his seventh World Billiards ranking trophy of the campaign.
Just as he did at the weekend, Causier scored heavily throughout the prestigious level 5 ranked tournament which was being held for the first time since 2019 due to coronavirus cancellations. He was relentless in the round robin phase, winning all four of his matches to top the group and registering an incredible 16 three-figure contributions, including a 387 which stood as the highest break of the competition.
As one of the best group winners, the Teesider went straight into the quarter-final knockouts where he top scored with a 214 as he eliminated Scotland’s Alan Shepherd 1345-267. In the semi-finals he racked up a 368 whilst dispatching world number five Darren Clark 1627-271.
The final was an all-English affair and a repeat of the last title match held three years ago in Ireland as Martin Goodwill won Group D before knockout round victories over Gary Norman (945-283) and Rob Hall (523-452) in the last eight and four respectively.
The identity of the victor would be the same as in 2019, though, as Causier won the three-hour final comfortably, totting up breaks of 118, 208, 109, 289 and 126 in a 1616-585 victory.
Report published by the WPBSA.
You can see a full list of the results & breaks here.
We would like to thank Olivier Vandenbohede and his team at The Trickshot for being such great hosts and for their efforts to provide great playing conditions for these events. It was also pleasing to see the enthusiasm of the Belgian players, we hope to see them at an event again soon. We are also grateful to our partner hotel – Velotel.