IT WAS a case of home sweet home for Bob Chapple as he became Channel Islands bar billiards champion. Playing on his home table at the Jamaica Inn the Guernseyman brushed aside the challenge of Jerseyman Graham Bisson to secure the title for only the second time.
The 52-year-old, who works in the finance industry and has been playing the game for 37 years, last won it in 1996.
‘It’s always nice to get one over a Jerseyman and I played well on the night,’ said Chapple.
He came out top with a resounding 19,750 to 5,010 victory as his outclassed opponent conceded the match near the end of the second frame.
Chapple convincingly won both games.
‘I had a 13,000 score going into the second frame, which more or less gave it to me after the first frame,’ he said.
In the first he potted impressive breaks of 5,900, 4,600 and another about 4,000 and a 5,500 break in the second to clinch it.
In the inter-insular team match the same night Guernsey lost 4-2.
Chapple narrowly lost to Bisson in that event.
‘Personally, I would have loved the team to have won but I’m very pleased with the individual result.’
All his hard work paid off, along with his new cue.
‘It seems to suit me better and is slightly lighter than my previous one with a smaller tip. I’m holding it shorter down the bottom to give me better balance,’ he said.
Although Chapple has been one of the island’s top players over the past decade he has come up against Trevor Gallienne with a good run of CI successes over the years.
‘He is a very hard act to follow and it’s very nice to come out on top this season,’ he said.
‘I have always been confident with my play and that I would be able to come back and take it on and win it again.’
He believes concentration and the ability to play through nerves are the biggest attributes in bar billiards success.
‘It’s a pressure game and you have to try and stay on the table and score more points than your opponent is able to come back with. You can’t stand up and walk away. If you get nerves, you play through it. You have to control them,’ said Chapple.
Early next month the island’s bar billiards team is heading to Sussex to play the England team.
Players will also compete in the big Sussex Open.
‘I will be trying to add that to my list,’ said Chapple.
The World Championships are being held in Jersey at the start of November.
‘I have made the quarter-finals before and would love to win that one.’
Anyone wanting more information about the local bar billiards scene can access www.guernseybarbilliards.co.uk.
Article posted on 4th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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