November 2003 - Hounslow's Raj Sagoo has won the first event of the BPPPA British Professional 9 Ball Tour, held on Saturday 15th November 2003 at Rileys American Pool & Snooker club in Harrow. Raj, predominantly a snooker player, beat the young rapid-fire hotshot James Akenhead 9-2 in the final to walk away with the trophy and the £750 first prize from a prize fund boosted by added sponsorship money.
Raj came through the winners' bracket undefeated in this double elimination event - where everyone gets two bites at the cherry - while James had been sent into the losers' bracket at the semi-final stage. From there, he had to overcome the distinguished 9 ball veteran Lee Tucker - who has previously represented Europe in the Mosconi Cup - before meeting the impressive newcomer Antony Doble in the losers' final. Doble was the man who knocked James out of the winners' half, but on their second meeting it was Akenhead who produced the goods to meet Raj in the grand final and ultimately claim second place, while Doble had to settle for third.
Also in the money at the end of the day were: Paul Burnett (4th), Lee Tucker (5th), current top 40 snooker professional Nick Dyson (6th), former English 9 ball pro Adam Clarke who is currently playing the European circuit and had travelled from Eindhoven to participate (7th) and Andy Jeronimidis (8th). Other notable names who didn't make the last eight included the extremely experienced Martinho Correia, snooker professional Mark Carrington, Manchester's finest Steve Higton, and Jay Trevadi, winner of last year's South Central tour.
The feedback from the players at this first event was very encouraging for the future of the tour. Steve Higton remarked "It was absolute tops - ten out of ten for organisation", while Lee Tucker enthused "I had a great day, the tournament was well organised and I especially enjoyed the double elimination format. It's good for the players, especially those who've travelled a long way, as everyone plays at least two matches and there are no 'first round casualties' making the long journey back after only one game." BPPPA President Ted Bristow, a former US circuit player and Florida resident remarked "This is 9 ball. It's got to be double elimination, that's the 'American Way'!"
