Allan Secures Spot in the Finals Scotland’s Steven Allan qualified for the main open singles event at Potters Resort last night with a tense final encounter against American Neil Furman. With everything riding on the match, the American ace took the first set 9-6 but Allan responded to take the second 7-2 and tie the match. Played in a round robin format, the competitor to qualify for the main event was decided on shots difference, with Allan clinching this over Furman. Both Furman and Allan did not lose a qualifying match, so it will have come as a bitter blow to Furman not to have gained passage as well. Allan will face fellow Scottish representative Jonathan Ross, formerly of Ireland, in the first round. Today has seen the first round of the world open singles, and, so far, the bookies’ favourites have come out on top. England’s Greg Harlow had a tricky tie against Irishman Gary Kelly but got over in straight sets, 8-3, 8-4, Scotland’s Darren Burnett defeated New Zealand qualifier Bart Robertson, also in straight sets, 9-4, 12-3, three times winner Andy Thomson MBE (England) despatched Scottish qualifier John Carswell, 10-5, 7-3 and Nicky Brett was given a walkover over Australian Grant Nichol, who is feeling unwell. Wales’ John Price and local wildcard Jake Willgress are currently playing. The pairs final to be played on Monday, 20 January, 1.00pm, will be decided between Paul Foster/Alex Marshall and Nicky Brett/Greg Harlow. Foster and Marshall have dominated the event over recent years, winning it three times running and hoping to win it for an unprecedented fourth time in a row. Brett and Harlow will prove formidable opponents, however, with former world champion Harlow and current Scottish Open champion Brett both in good form. Foster and Marshall defeated Welsh duo John Price and Jason Greenslade in the semi-finals, 11-5,10-5, and defeated the same pair they despatched in the final last year – Stewart Anderson and Darren Burnett, 9-6, 12-4, in the last eight. Brett and Harlow got to the final after a semi-final win over Scotland’s Jonathan Ross and Wales’ Robert Weale – 11-2, 8-4, an 8-5,9-3 victory over England’s Mervyn King and Scotland’s David Gourlay and a last 16 victory against Andrew Barker and Mike Stepney – 13-1, 8-6.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:11:39 +0000
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