The Star Table 6-Red Challenge

They came from far and wide to compete in the inaugural Star Table 6-Red Challenge held at the Paddock Wood Social Club on Sunday 30th April 2023.

The Players:

GROUP 1

1. Ryan Levett (Gravesend )
2. Anthony Timms (Tilehurst) 
3. Mark Curtis (Goudhurst)
4. Alec Foord (Lewes)

GROUP 2

1. Giuseppe Viscogliosi (Eirth)
2. Martin Brunker (Maidstone)
3. Kieran Jordan (Blackfen)
4. Mark Nicholson (Tunbridge Wells)

HANDICAPS

1. 0
2. 5
3. 10
4. 15

Play got off to a gripping start with a single-frame, group stage.

There was a black ball finish in Group A with Alec Foord, from Lewes East Sussex, coming out on top 57-54.

The first frame in Group B was much more one-sided with Giuseppe Viscogliosi coming out on top 49-17 over Tunbridge Wells based Mark Nicholson.

A hard-fought safety battle in game 2 of Group A saw Mark Curtis come out the victor to Anthony Timms 62-43 whereas a somewhat uneven match up in Group B saw the Blackfen potter Kieran Jordan cruise through 48-17 against Martin Brunker.

Play continued steadily in the group stages competing finally around 7pm consisting of 12 hard fought frames in total.

The top 2 players from each group would progress to the semi-final stage.

Mark Curtis from Goudhurst went through seeded 1 from Group A along with Tilehurst’s Anthony Timms seeded 2. Group B saw World Disability player Martin Bunker from Maidstone go through seeded 1 and Erith’s Giuseppe Viscogliosi seeded 2.

The semi-finals, best of 3 frames, kicked off with 2-0 win to Martin Brunker overcoming Anthony Timms 36-25 and 54-20.

So who would be awaiting Brunker in the final?

Our second semi-final went to Mark Curtis coming out on top against Giuseppe Viscogliosi 2-0 again with frame scores of 72-39 and 62-39.

Both our finalists had fought hard all day with Mark Curtis not dropping a single frame and Martin Brunker only dropping the one frame in the group stage.

Our final would be best of 3 frames again. A close first frame went to the Maidstone matchplayer Martin Brunker taking it 40-51 before Mark Curtis managed to peg him back to 1-1 with a decisive frame score of 41-6.

Now to the final and deciding frame.

After initial good scoring and rock-solid safety from Martin, the tables turned with Mark playing him at his own game with some outstanding safety play.

Then the inevitable happened. Just as, in the background, we witnessed Mark Selby’s flawless 147 on the snooker room TV of course, our final would go to a black ball finish!

With a safety misplayed by Brunker leaving the black over the pocket, a shock miss from Curtis left Brunker sinking it and taking the first Star Table 6-Reds Challenge trophy and £100 first prize to boot!  

Thanks to everyone who competed in the Star Table 6-Reds Challenge and see you all at the next one!