Barry Pinches Wins Second English Amateur Tour Title

Barry Pinches defeated Liam Highfield 4-2 in the final of the fourth English Amateur Tour event of the season at the Frames Sports Bar in Coulsdon.

• Results

The success in Coulsdon saw Pinches pick up his second title of the season on England’s flagship national amateur tour following his victory in Leeds back in October.

A total of 46 cueists took part in the two-day event which featured each of the winners from the first three events of the campaign – Highfield, Pinches and Kayden Brierley.

The last 32 stage saw a meeting between two of these players as Pinches overcame Brierley 4-3 with two half-century breaks en route to victory.

Pinches continued to show his battling qualities as he made it three consecutive deciding frame successes by beating Patrick Whelan and former professional Billy Castle 4-3 to book his place in the semi-finals.

Breaks of 62 and 69 then saw the 54-year-old defeat James Lee 4-2 and reach the title match where he would face event one champion Highfield.

The 34-year-old had ousted former professionals Sean O’Sullivan and Ashley Hugill on the concluding day, as well as making the tournament high break of 133, to book his place in the final in Coulsdon.

Both players were aiming for a second English Amateur Tour title of the season and the final was a high qualify affair as Pinches countered his opponent’s opening frame break of 70 with a contribution of exactly 100.

The contest remained tied at 2-2 before back-to-back breaks of 61 from Pinches saw him get over the line and secure the title.

The fifth English Amateur Tour event of the season takes place at the Landywood Snooker Club in Walsall on 4-5 January 2025. Enter now.