Darren Morgan
Bronze Medal Match
Ali Alobaidli 2-3 Darren Morgan
64-32, 7-74, 27-72, 62-8, 0-96
Semi-finals
Cheung Ka Wai 3-0 Ali Alobaidle
89-41, 56-48, 72-40
Abdelrahman Shahin 3-2 Darren Morgan
95-44, 62-18, 10-75 (52), 5-84 (74), 72-0 (72)
Darren Morgan won World Games snooker bronze after clinching a deciding frame against Qatar’s Alo Alobaidli, while Sunday’s final will be contested between Cheung Ka Wei of Hong Kong and Abdelrahman Shahin of Egypt.
Shahin’s place in the Gold Medal match was won after perhaps the highest-quality contest of the snooker division so far. The Egyptian built a 2-0 lead in the best of five, with contributions including a 47 built around the lower-value colors and featuring an excellent double and a long green.
But Morgan fought back with two good breaks of 52 and 74 to force the match to a decider. However, his efforts were in vein as Shahin produced a fine 72 under pressure to reach the final.
Cheung defeated Alobaidli 3-0 in their semi-final. After taking the first frame 89-41, the second went down to the wire. Alobaidli needed the pink but Cheung also needed the black, and he added the final two colors to his score to go two ahead. Alobaidli continued to fight in the third but Cheung’s first visit had put 23 points on the scoreboard and he contined to score to keep his Qatari opponent at bay.
In the bronze medal match, a break of 38 got Morgan level at 1-1, and he moved to within one of victory in the third. Breaks of 21 and 19 contributed to a frame score of 62 which won the fourth for Alobaidli, but Morgan was clinical in the decider to add 55 to the scoreboard, and a further 41 meant the bronze medal will be going to Great Britain.
“I was disappointed to not get into the final and play for the gold medal,” said Morgan. “I thought the draw might have opened up for me but I was very nervous in the semi-final. I put myself under it at 2-0 down and played two great frames to go 2-2. At that point I thought I had him, but to be fair to him I went for a long one and didn’t get it and first opportunity he made 72. He had been sat in his chair for two frames so he deserves his final spot.
“Playing the Bronze Medal match with the disappointment of not being in the final was tough and that showed in my performance.
“I came here for a medal and I am delighted to be going home with a medal. If somebody had told me I would have a bronze medal I would have snapped their hands off at the start of the week, but playing so well in the first two matches, my level of expectation rose a little bit. I am very proud to get a medal for Great Britian.”
The Olympic Channel is live streaming The World Games and billiards will feature on July 16 and July 17 when the finals take place. A full streaming schedule and links are at https://www.theworldgames.
Follow @wcbsbilliards on social media for full coverage of the billiards program from our team in Birmingham, Alabama.
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