The 2024/25 WBL season begins in the same fashion as the previous season ended on European soil – with a tournament victory by reigning World Matchplay Champion Dave Causier from England.
The multiple Billiards world champion defeated his fellow countryman and 2023 world champion Peter Gilchrist, who competes for Singapore, with a score of 616-438 in the final. Causier also achieved the tournament’s highest break, an impressive 842 points, in the semifinal against England’s Rob Hall, currently ranked number 3 in the world.
Carl Walter Steiner, Austria; © Alex Trinkl
Representing Austria, Carl Walter Steiner competed and placed third in Group D, behind the English players Peter Sheehan (98-619), the defending champion of last year’s WBL event at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, and Eddie Duggan (100-267), but ahead of Richard de la Haye from Jersey (172-170) and Ireland’s Jennifer Earle (213-54). In the group stage, consisting of 15 groups of five players each and one group of four players, the top two positions advanced to the round of 16. This resulted in Steiner finishing the tournament in 33rd place overall.
Before the upcoming European events of the new WBL season, the English Open and the World Billiards Championship, the official world championship in the timed format, at the Landywood Snooker Club (Great Wyrley, ENG), which is also the venue for this year’s 4 Nations Billiards International where Austria will traditionally compete, Carl Walter Steiner is ranked 80th in the WBL world rankings.
Results | Jim Williamson Open 2024
Season Calendar 2024/25 | World Billiards
© Title photograph: WBL