World Champion David Causier successfully defended the Jim Williamson Open title after defeating Peter Sheehan 729-354 in the final as the new 2025/26 World Billiards Tour season broke off in style.
Held at the fantastic Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, the level three world ranking event featured a bumper field of 80 players representing 13 different nations from across four continents. The annual fixture on the top tier billiards circuit is named and held in honour of Jim Williamson, who was a very important figure in the sport and founder of the host venue in 1974.
Causier – who won eight ranking events last season – sailed through the groups phase, finishing top of Group B with four wins from four. The Englishman registered two double centuries and a further 12 single centuries during that initial stage.
In the knockouts, Causier defeated Tom Middleton 510-137 (breaks of 185, 109) in the last 32 before compiling a huge effort of 743 – along with a 404 – during a 1198-49 victory over Chris Achilles in the last 16.
A highlight run of 259 and four other tons assisted Casuier in eliminating Darren Clark 1026-214 in the quarter-finals which helped set up a blockbuster semi-final with Peter Gilchrist. The top two billiards players in the world and a repeat of last year’s title match, Causier ended up coming through comfortably as he notched up four centuries in a 765-257 win.
Coming through the other side of the draw in Yorkshire was former champion Sheehan, who claimed this title two years before.
After a 100% groups stage campaign, Sheehan dispatched Chris Bishop, Craig J Fitzpatrick, and then Robert Marshall in the knockouts before ousting Robert Hall 495-401 in a thrilling semi-final during which an unfinished break of 78 allowed him to crucially keep possession of the table as the match clock ticked away.
In the previous round, world number three Hall – who captained England A to gold at the Home Internationals Championship at the same venue a few days before – constructed a sequence of 738 in his quarter-final win over Christian Kirk. The run was just five shy of Causier’s benchmark which remained as the tournament’s highest break.
In the all-English, 90-minute final, Causier opened up with a run of 325 to instantly take firm control.
Sheehan was unable to make significant inroads into that deficit, as further breaks of 74, 88 and 64 aided Causier to nurse his lead to the finish line and retain the crown.
In the Challenge Cup – for players who didn’t make it through to the last 32 of the main competition – Terry McAdam took the top prize as he ousted fellow Englishman Dave Turley 129-117 in the final.
The next stops on the World Billiards Tour are all ‘Down Under’ in September with the Sydney Open, Auckland Open and New Zealand Open tournaments. Then in October it’s the English Open immediately followed by the sport’s blue riband event, the 2025 World Billiards Championship, held at the Landywood Snooker Club.
The post Causier wins bumper Jim Williamson Open as new World Billiards season gets underway appeared first on WPBSA.
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Held at the fantastic Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, the level three world ranking event featured a bumper field of 80 players representing 13 different nations from across four continents. The annual fixture on the top tier billiards circuit is named and held in honour of Jim Williamson, who was a very important figure in the sport and founder of the host venue in 1974.
Causier – who won eight ranking events last season – sailed through the groups phase, finishing top of Group B with four wins from four. The Englishman registered two double centuries and a further 12 single centuries during that initial stage.
In the knockouts, Causier defeated Tom Middleton 510-137 (breaks of 185, 109) in the last 32 before compiling a huge effort of 743 – along with a 404 – during a 1198-49 victory over Chris Achilles in the last 16.
A highlight run of 259 and four other tons assisted Casuier in eliminating Darren Clark 1026-214 in the quarter-finals which helped set up a blockbuster semi-final with Peter Gilchrist. The top two billiards players in the world and a repeat of last year’s title match, Causier ended up coming through comfortably as he notched up four centuries in a 765-257 win.
Coming through the other side of the draw in Yorkshire was former champion Sheehan, who claimed this title two years before.
After a 100% groups stage campaign, Sheehan dispatched Chris Bishop, Craig J Fitzpatrick, and then Robert Marshall in the knockouts before ousting Robert Hall 495-401 in a thrilling semi-final during which an unfinished break of 78 allowed him to crucially keep possession of the table as the match clock ticked away.
In the previous round, world number three Hall – who captained England A to gold at the Home Internationals Championship at the same venue a few days before – constructed a sequence of 738 in his quarter-final win over Christian Kirk. The run was just five shy of Causier’s benchmark which remained as the tournament’s highest break.
In the all-English, 90-minute final, Causier opened up with a run of 325 to instantly take firm control.
Sheehan was unable to make significant inroads into that deficit, as further breaks of 74, 88 and 64 aided Causier to nurse his lead to the finish line and retain the crown.
In the Challenge Cup – for players who didn’t make it through to the last 32 of the main competition – Terry McAdam took the top prize as he ousted fellow Englishman Dave Turley 129-117 in the final.
The next stops on the World Billiards Tour are all ‘Down Under’ in September with the Sydney Open, Auckland Open and New Zealand Open tournaments. Then in October it’s the English Open immediately followed by the sport’s blue riband event, the 2025 World Billiards Championship, held at the Landywood Snooker Club.
The post Causier wins bumper Jim Williamson Open as new World Billiards season gets underway appeared first on WPBSA.
Continue reading...
