The Hindu : Russell is champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Russell is champion

By Geet Sethi

PRESTATYN, MARCH 23. Mike Russell is the 2004 World professional billiards champion. Late on Monday night at the Pontins Holiday Resort, the World no.1 successfully defended his title with a 2402-1349 victory in the five-hour final against David Causier, the world no.3. This was Russell's eighth World title in a professional career spanning 18 years.

Given Russell's exceptional form in the semifinal against Lee Lagan, in particular the remarkable construction of a triple century in his very first scoring visit to the table, one had expected the 38-year-old to once again get off to an explosive start. So when his opponent cracked in two early breaks of 122 and 102 in the third and sixth visits respectively, he (Causier) seemed as surprised as the spectators who had expected Causier's demolition to be as quick and complete as Lagan's in the semifinal. Russell trailed by almost 200 points after seven visits each.

However, as it turned out this was an aberration which Russell rectified with ruthless efficiency and clinical precision, as he went on to convert the 200-point deficit into a comforting 366-point advantage with successive contributions of 167, 114, 368 and 124. Russell added another 134 on his 19th visit to end the first two and half hour session leading 1070-704 with a session average of 56.3 compared to Causier's session average of 35.2.

But clearly Russell's appetite for big breaks and the desire to further dominate proceedings was not yet fulfilled. An unfinished break of 2 was converted into a 151 on resumption and then in the 14th visit his genius surfaced in glorious splendour. A 551 on the 14th visit of the second session provided further proof of his greatness and more importantly instilled in his opponent a disheartening sense of inferiority and futility. Russell has made bigger breaks but this 551 had class written all over it. The fluency, precision, and the intense concentration which he exhibited were the fruits of years of reclusion in honing the skills which make him the undisputed king of the three-ball game. Genius in full flow has no limitations. The very next effort was a 74 and the 16th visit saw him constructing a 170.

By now Causier realised that he was playing against a cueist who was clearly in the `zone.' Never have so many varied emotions been seen so vividly on the face of Causier in one match. From delight in the opening six visits when he led by about 200 points, to despair at the end of the first session when he trailed by over 300 points and then futility after Russell cracked in that 551. And towards the end there was a calm sense of gratitude written all over the 31-year-old. Gratitude that he was there to see genius in full flow.

With his eighth World title Russell further reinforces not only his no.1 world ranking for the eighth consecutive year but also his bid to perhaps be recognised as the greatest billiards player after Walter Lindrum.

The results: Final (five hours): Russell 2402 (167, 114, 368, 124, 134, 151, 551, 170) bt Causier 1349 (122, 102, 112, 101, 125).

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