John Mitchell Makes Quarter Final

of the World Championship 2001.

 

Dover and Deal Bar Billiards League players took part, along with 250 others,  in the British Isles Open in Jersey this week. Played over two days at the De Normandie Hotel in St. Helier, the most successful player was Alma's John Mitchell who made the quarter final.  JJ, as he is known, beat Ian Moss of Oxford in the first round, R. Wells of Sussex in the second on the first day. On the second day he beat England player Paul Sainsbury in his first match. Next came Dave May of Medway in the first of the two leg matches. The last 16 against T. Wanstall of Bucks was a nailbiting match with John behind for most of the match, in the last few seconds he got back to break and was 210 behind as the bar dropped, trapping the red and one white. John nervously potted the break the three necessary times to win by 90. In the quarter final he was up against tournament winner Jim Millward of Sussex. John opened with 2500 but this was not enough as Millward sailed past him with two big breaks. It could have been different though! Millward had won a scrappy earlier match with only 720 points! and that on his fourth go at the last ball.

 

John works for the Foreign Exchange department of P&O Stena and is justifiably proud of his achievement. John's participation in the tournament looked in jeopardy after his old cue of the last 25 years collapsed the previous week. Dave Carliell of the Greyhound gave him a good quality old snooker cue for his 50th birthday that week, which was lightened and prepared for him by Chris Saville. John used the new cue to great effect to get to the quarter finals of what is also badged as the 'World Championships'. Also playing was Chris Saville, who again failed to win a toss and had to watch Ray Sturgess of Oxford open with 7500 in the third round in a one leg match to give him no chance of reply. Dave Carliell won his first round match in his swansong year in Jersey. Newcomer Daniel Jackson frightened England player Steve Mariner of Sussex in the first round, by opening with 2000, but he unfortunately pegged, Daniel won his first match in the plate and looks a promising and committed prospect for the future.