Baird books World Open Place
Sam Baird won the South West Snooker Academy qualifier to book himself into the World Open at Sheffield
70 players from all over the country assembled at the new South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester to contest the World Open Qualifier. But in the end it was two West Country lads who reached the final.
It was the largest entry list of any of the Amateur qualifying events set up around the country to produce 20 Amateur players who will compete alongside the professionals in the World Open.
Baird's narrow 3-2 win over Andrew Norman in a thrilling final, refereed by Paul Collier, ensured him a place in the draw, where he will face China's Anda Zhang at the EIS in Sheffield.
Baird also received a Scholarship from the South West Snooker Academy, presented to him by Paul Mount.
The final opened with a fine run of 55 from Baird before he missed a red to the corner. Norman clawed his way right back into the frame, only to agonisingly lose it on the black.
But the Bristol player bounced back with a 72 break to level the scores.
Baird regained the lead with 64 before Norman battled back to send the match into a deciding frame.
It was nip and tuck all the way before Baird pounced with a couple of reds left to put the match beyond doubt.
Norman had to win a thriller in his opener match, against former professional Nick Pearce, a local Gloucester player. Pearce knocked in the best break of the day, 98, missing the green for a century, but Norman won the deciding frame.
He went on to beat Jay Bullen, Adrian Bond, Michael Leach and Jeff Cundy to reach the final.
Baird was in scoring form all day and looked like 'the man to beat'.
The Devonian rattled in breaks of 90, 75 and 81 in his first match against Marc Harman. A run of 72 helped him overcome Shahrukh Nasir.
In the last 16 Baird ran in 69 during a 3-0 win over India's Lucky Vatnani and then slammed in 61 and 78 twice to beat Lee Page 3-1 in the quarters.
He reached the final courtesy of a 3-1 win over Walsall's Daniel Ward.
