Date: 7-9 June 2013
Venue: Cedar Court Hotel Leeds/Bradford - Mayo Avenue - Bradford - BD5 8HW
Deadline for entries: 3 June 2013
The GB 9 Ball Tour makes a welcome return to Yorkshire shortly as the 2013 Northern Masters 10-ball event is contested at the spectacular Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.
The success of last year’s 10-ball event, where Daryl Peach achieved a remarkable comeback against Shaun Storry in winning the 2012 edition of this competition, has led to the GB9 team bringing back this increasingly popular code of pool. Not since November 2009 has there been a professional American pool event held in Yorkshire, with that year’s Northern Masters held at the former Riley’s in Barnsley. Many would say this tournament is a long time coming and a lot of local players will surely be relishing the prospect of playing American pool on their doorstep. With two of the world’s best and most exciting players hailing from Yorkshire – Keighley’s Chris Melling and Pontefract’s Darren Appleton – it’s no wonder the area is home to some of the best talent Britain has to offer on the pool scene and it’s that which promises to make this competition the most exciting so far this season.
Young Elliott Sanderson from Barnsley is just one of the players looking to have an impact on the competition and is excited to have a tournament so close to home. “It’s great to have a GB9 tournament back up in Yorkshire again”, said an excited Sanderson. “I believe it has been some time and I think there’s a good market here in Yorkshire and I strongly believe that Yorkshire and the north of Great Britain holds the strongest amateurs. After my defeat in my last money match I have hit the table hard to bounce back. It hurts losing but it’s all a learning curve for a young player like me and the tour, especially this event in Bradford, is a good opportunity for me.”
Keighley’s Arfan Dad, the first Challenge Cup winner of the 2013 season, is also relishing the prospect of playing at a tournament so close to home. “This third event of the season is one I’m really looking forward to for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s one that is almost on my doorstep with it being in Bradford. Secondly, the discipline is 10-ball which I personally enjoy playing more than 9-ball. I prefer the call shot rule, the different break-off shot and the tougher run outs which 10-ball brings to the mix. At last season’s Northern Masters I achieved my best ever finish in a main event by getting to the semis and losing to eventual winner Daryl Peach, so I’m hoping for something similar, if not better, this time around.”
The action begins from 5pm on Friday 7th June, with play continuing through to the afternoon of Sunday 9th June. Live streaming will once again be hosted free-of-charge, and spectator entry is free for everyone. At just five minutes drive from the centre of Bradford and five minutes drive off the M62 this is one of the most accessible GB9 events for quite some time, so come on down and see yourself some of the country’s finest pool players in action. If you can’t get down to the venue you can follow every match with our rack-by-rack live scoring.
It’s not too late to enter this event with entries being taken up to Monday 3rd June, just read the event details and follow the link to the entry form. In fact if you are local to the host venue then you may wish to try your hand in a qualifying event which is being held at Cue Gardens in Bradford on Saturday 1st June, details are available on Facebook or on Pro9.co.uk.
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In 2013 GB9 is proudly sponsored by Carlson Rezidor Hotels, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls, OB Cues, Kamui Tips and Power Bridge making the perfect combination of the very best equipment in the most outstanding venues.
