Hall Retains National Billiards Title

Rob Hall defeated Jonathan Marwood 562-322 in the final at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds to successfully defend the EPSB English National Billiards Championship.

• Tournament results can be viewed here

Featuring players from up and down the country and held across the weekend in West Yorkshire, world number three Hall qualified for Sunday’s knockout stages after finishing top of Group B with a 100% record. The Lincoln-based star defeated Adam Clarke, Terry McAdam and John Hughes, registering three centuries and a double century in the process. 

Due to his record in the group, reigning Belgian Open champion Hall became a seed and avoided the opening knockout round. He continued his pursuit with a 622-181 victory against Chris Achilles in the quarter-finals (breaks of 126, 165) before eliminating Gary Norman 592-213 in the last four, during which he compiled what would stand as the tournament’s highest break of 245.

Marwood made his way through the other side of the draw, also with a perfect result card. The world number seven won three from three in Group E and just like Hall he advanced straight to last eight where he defeated Chris Taylor 357-223. In the last four he stopped the in-form Ryan Mears – a semi-finalist at the recent World Matchplay Championship – 301-235. 

However, Hall was in no mood to relinquish the national title he claimed here last year, as he top scored with a break of 184 to win the two-hour final and retain. 

The EPSB would like to thank tournament director Frank Bradley, referee Stephen Harrison and host venue the Northern Snooker Centre.