The 2024/25 World Billiards season continued on March 1-2 with the Club 200 Open in Manchester, England, producing a WBL tournament winner for the first time in over a year who was not Dave Causier.
England’s Peter Sheehan, ranked fourth in the World Billiards rankings, ended the seemingly endless winning streak of his compatriot and reigning World Champion Dave Causier in the semifinals. However, he was unable to overcome Causier’s predecessor on the Billiards throne, falling to Singapore’s Peter Gilchrist in the final. Refereed by legendary official Chris Ellis (ENG), the match ended in a clear 112-873 victory for Gilchrist.
Austria was represented by Carl Walter Steiner. Ranked 78th in the world, he faced Causier in Group B, suffering an expected heavy defeat. His other group-stage opponents were England’s Terry McAdam and Sam Walker as well as Scotland’s Dougie Melrose. In a tightly contested battle for the second knockout-stage qualification spot behind Causier, only a few points separated the four players. Steiner secured a narrow 137-135 victory over Melrose but suffered equally close losses to McAdam (141-154) and Walker (153-180), preventing him from advancing. The experienced Viennese Billiards player and Class 1 referee continued to contribute to the tournament as an official, refereeing up to the quarterfinals.
Carl Walter Steiner; ©jasondevanney
The highest break of the event came from tournament winner Gilchrist, who produced an impressive 484. In total, the competition saw three breaks exceeding 400, nine breaks over 300, and numerous additional century-plus contributions.
Austria will be represented at the next WBL events, both the Irish Open and the World Matchplay Championship held at the same venue, by Carl Walter Steiner, former National Billiards Champion Patrick Stegmeier and Class 1 referee Christian Fock. These events will take place from April 4-11 at the Snooker Academy of Snooker & Billiards Ireland (SBI) in Carlow, Ireland.
» Results
Title photograph: Peter Gilchrist; ©WBL