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| November 4, 2002 | Monday | Sha’aban 28,1423 |
Misfud crowned new Champion
CAIRO, Nov 3: Consistent Australian cueist, Steve Misfud, clinched the World Snooker Championship Saturday night when he overhauled challenger Welshman Tim English 11-6 in the final.
The 30-year-old five-time Australian champion, Mifsud demonstrated superior potting and positional play to overpower English in a marathon final lasting just under six hours to win the title on his third attempt.
Mifsud, a casino employee from Melbourne, won 63-51, 58-42, 83-20, 66-24, 122-08, 71-35, 08-81, 59-22, 72-50, 01-77, 30-62, 76-67, 63-27, 78-4, 54-63 41-32, 61-60.
Mifsud had suffered two defeats in group H going down 4-3 to Manan Chandra (India) and Rune Khampe (Denmark), but still emerged group champion and went on to win the title.
Besides a glittering trophy, Misfud was awarded a cash prize of sterling 2000, while English received sterling 1000.
Losing semi finalist Ding Junhui of China and Joe O’Maera from Northern Ireland collected sterling 500 each.
Wael Talaat of Egypt, who smashed the championship highest break of 138 collected sterling 600.
“Its a fantastic feeling to win this coveted world amateur title” delighted Misfud told APP after his triumph.
“Twice I made it to the knock-out stage in China and Papua New Guinea but becoming the World Champion is my greatest honour,” he maintained. “Its a wonderful moment of my life” he said.
Pre-tournament eighth seed Mifsud, got off to whirlwind start when he took 3-0 lead
with a break of 60 in third frame despite a bit of challenge by English. However English came from behind to take the frame with a aid of break of 64.
Another attacking break of 88 helped English reduce the deficit to 2-3. But the sixth frame saw Mifsud increasing his lead to 4-2 after the cueist from Wales missed a red in pocket number one.
Though English took 7th and 10th frame it was Mifsud enjoying a comfortable 6-4 lead at the interval.
Though English grabbed two more frames after the break and came close in another two, Mifsud enjoying some luck snatched the decider in the 17th frame to be crowned the new champion.—APP
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