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Steadman Does an EPSB Open Series Double
Craig Steadman enjoyed a profitable weekend as he won both the latest EPSB Open Series events in Northampton and Leicester respectively.
Despite conceding 18 points per frame when facing amateur opponents, the World Snooker Tour star remained undefeated across both Saturday and Sunday.
He began his eight-match winning streak with victory at Barratts Sports Bar, impressively defeating fellow main tour exponent Jamie O’Neill 3-0 in the first round with breaks of 87, 70 and 85.
The Snooker Shootout semi-finalist earlier in the year then eliminated Adam Goff 3-1 with efforts of 50 and 119 in the quarter-finals before a run of exactly 100 in the deciding frame saw him pip Rory McLeod 3-2 in the semi-finals.
In the final he faced in-form amateur Patrick Whelan. Winner of the event in Hull last Sunday, Whelan ended the hopes of English Amateur Champion Ben Hancorn 3-0 in the other last four tie. However, it was Steadman – although losing the first frame – who would be celebrating this time after a 3-1 triumph with breaks of 43 and 59 in the final two frames.
More Success in Leicester
The next day, Steadman and several other players also made the journey to Breakers Snooker Club where the outcome was the same again.
The former Crucible qualifier picked up where he left off, racking up contributions of 77, 53 and 118 as he dispatched Chae Ross 3-1 first up.
He needed a deciding frame to oust Sanderson Lam 3-2 in the last eight (top scoring with a break of 92) and then denied Leo Fernandez 3-0 in the last four (breaks of 81 and 53).
Steadman’s opponent in the final was Andy Marriot, who had come through four rounds including three deciding frame wins over David Jobling, Brandon Hall and Ronnie Blake in the last 16, 8 and 4 respectively. Against Jobling and Blake, Marriot recovered from 2-0 down on both occasions – he was also 2-1 behind to Hall.
The professional claimed the opener in the final with the aid of a 46 but Marriot levelled up with the help of a 68. A 49 from Steadman was made on his way to going back in front, but Marriot would square it again to take it all way. Steadman, though, would indeed complete a memorable back-to-back double, registering his highest break of the match with a 75 in frame five.
The next EPSB Open Series events take place next weekend with competitions at The Winchester, Leicester on Saturday 18th and then Tradewell Snooker Centre, Hull and Sams Snooker and Pool, Hartlepool on Sunday 19th. All EPSB Open Series events are open to all.
