Clive Thompson
20 February, 2025
Sport

Billingshurst man Michael now the country's top bar billiards player

Billingshurst Bar Billiards League once again had a strong representation in a weekend ‘Open’ - sending four members along to Sunday’s West-Sussex Open, played at new venue the Aldingbourne Social Club, Westergate, Chichester.

Michael is presented by organiser Martin Cole, whom he had beaten in a Semi-final thriller

Billingshurst Bar Billiards League once again had a strong representation in a weekend ‘Open’ - sending four members along to  Sunday’s West-Sussex Open, played at new venue the Aldingbourne Social Club, Westergate, Chichester. Apart from Sussex, other counties represented were Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Northants.

Recently selected to play for his country, Windmill Gossops Green's  Michael Wilson went all the way on this occasion, carrying off his First National Open title: The youngster - currently National Under30 champion - was in irrepressible form throughout, registering breaks of 13,000-plus in four of his six matches.

Teammates Clive Thompson and Paul Jobbins were in the Plate, each winning two matches after losing to tough First round opposition, whilst John Slee can feel hard done by in coming up against Michael in Round Two, having just eliminated strong Buckinghamshire player Alan Donovan who went on to win the Plate.  

Back to Michael, and having knocked out Nigel Senior and Joe Oakley - both past winners of Opens - there was high drama too in the Semi-Final, where Martin Cole set about overhauling Michael's 17,220 but needed 420 after the bar had gone and with the red trapped. Two separate tally-ups were required of the scorers, and it got down to Martin needing  a last-ball 200 to win. This stopped agonisingly on the lip and Michael potted the pressure ball 100 for his place in the Final.

Drama also in the Final where Michael opened with 16,000 leaving 2 minutes’ table time which Matt Jones (the 2023 World Champion) was unable to consolidate on,  as the balls had been left awkward. Matt then in his break game set about the chase but a couple of excursions down the table meant he was likely to finish a thousand short. He visibly speeded up but clipped a white peg with the winning post nearing in sight.                            

Clive Thompson

1st Rd lost to David Jones (Surrey) 5650-20600

PLATE 1st Rd bt James Whittle (Wor) 9110-4750

PLATE 2nd Rd bt Martin Kemsley (Kent) 9280-3310

PLATE Qr Final lost to Cliff Slade (Bucks) 5280-6630

Paul Jobbins

1st Rd - Bye

2nd Rd lost to Matt Jones (Bucks) 4880-18660

PLATE 1st Rd - Bye

PLATE 2nd Rd bt Melissa Beach (W-Sus) 4710-2760

PLATE Qr Final bt Caroline Jones (Sur) 10190-3490

PLATE Semi-Final lost to Gerry Fitzjohn (Kent) 8380-13870

John Slee

1st Rd bt Alan Donovan (Bucks) 14800-8800

2nd Rd lost to Michael Wilson 2210-8080

Michael Wilson

1st Rd bt Phil McFarland (Berks) 21800-3650

2nd Rd bt John Slee 8080-2210

3rd Rd bt Nigel Senior (Bri) 16190-12350

Qr Final bt Joe Oakley (Wor) 12260-7410

Semi-Final bt Martin Cole (W-Sus) 17320-17100

FINAL bt Matt Jones (Bucks) 17650-770

Riding as it does on the back of his place in the World Championship Final in Jersey last November, this winning of the First Open of 2025 suggests that Michael is, on present form, currently  the best bar billiards player in England !