Report – Dave Causier is the World Billiards Matchplay Champion 2024; Carl Walter Steiner misses out on knockout rounds

This year’s edition of the World Billiards Matchplay Championship in the SBI Academy in Carlow, Ireland, was dominated by WBL serial winner Dave Causier. The Englishman, who already won the Austrian Open in Vienna in March and just a few days ago the Irish Open held in the same venue, played in 46 games, which he won until clinching the title, notching no fewer than 17 breaks of 100 points or more, and 27 game-deciding breaks (unfinished) over 65 points.

Thus, Causier triumphed at the World Matchplay in Carlow in a ultimately rather one-sided final, officiated by SBI Secretary John Kehoe, well-deserved against his Indian competitor Sourav Kothari with 8-2.

Dave Causier (left), Referee John Kehoe, Sourav Kothari; © WBL

The highest break of 105 points was achieved by the reigning long-format world champion Peter Gilchrist, who plays for Singapore and will attempt to defend his title against Causier later this year, and Peter Sheehan from England.

The competition, which can be considered as the Billiards World Championship in the points format, is played under modified short-format rules in a best-of format. While in the group stage there were five games per match, the scoring targets increased from round to round towards the end of the tournament. To win a game at the World Matchplay, players must reach the mark of 100 points before their respective opponents.

Dhjav Haria (left) with Carl Walter Steiner; © WBL

Carl Walter Steiner represented Austria and unfortunately did not manage to secure a place in the knockout rounds in his group, which was very strong, with two former vice world champions, to say the least. Steiner lost three of his four preliminary round matches against the English players Rob Hall, Steve Brookshaw and Dhvaj Haria from India with 0-5, against the Scotsman Paul McGowan he managed to win one game in the 1-4 defeat, with two of the other four games lost very narrowly and unfortunately with 98-100 and 99-100. Thus, the Viennese narrowly missed a prestigious match win and ultimately finished tied for 36th place.

In total, there were 45 participants, ensuring that the first of two global championships of the WBL, held at the Irish National Federation SBI Academy, was a complete success.

All World Matchplay results and further dates of the ongoing WBL season can be found on the World Billiards website.