Campbell On Top In Germany
Scotland’s Marcus Campbell became the ninth winner on the new Players Tour Championship circuit by beating China’s Liang Wenbo 4-0 in the final to take the ten thousand euros first prize in at the EPTC3 in Russelsheim, Germany.
The win elevates 38-year-old Campbell into fourth spot on the latest PTC Order of Merit picked up and is certain to qualify for the Tour finals in March.
Dumbarton’s finest also finds himself in the top 32 of the world rankings for the first time in his career which is now entering its twentieth year after adding the win to his semi-final place in PTC6 last week.
Both players were passed their best at the end of a long final day, with Campbell able to take a commanding 3-0 lead with a top break of just 32.
Liang saw his all-out attack approach frustrated. A run of 29 put Campbell in control of frame four, and though Liang hit back with a break of 41, Campbell eventually won the frame on the colours to become the ninth different winner in nine PTC events so far this season.
"I never missed much and I shut him out," said Campbell after the final. "It was the same for me throughout, I was just steady and didn't make many mistakes. I knew these events were winnable, but to do it is a different matter."
Before claiming his maiden PTC title, Campbell’s career highlight was beating Stephen Hendry 9-0 at the 1998 UK Championship.
After a couple of less than successful seasons, which saw him exit the world's top 50, one of the most popular guys on tour never considered quitting snooker. "I always kept the faith," he said. "I've always practised hard, and sometimes you get the rewards, sometimes you don't.
“Two years ago I switched clubs and started playing with the likes of Stephen Maguire, John Higgins and Graeme Dott, and that has made a big difference. Since then I've got the rewards - I'll keep punching away and hope to keep it up."
The standard in Ruselsheim was of the highest quality with a brace of maximum 147’s and over forty century breaks. Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon, a 16-year-old from Thailand became the youngest player ever to score an official 147, and veteran Mark Williams made the second of his career following his Crucible effort in 2005.
On his way to the final, Campbell recorded wins against Stephanie Ochoiski, Mark Joyce and Kyren Wilson in Friday’s qualifying session.
He followed that with wins over Robert Milkins, winner of the first EPTC event Judd Trump and former world champion, Ken Doherty to book his final place.
In the other half of the draw, Wenbo safely negotiated Saturday’s qualifying beating Chen Zhe, Ding Junhui and world number one, Neil Robertson.
On Sunday, he survived a tough battle with Peter Ebdon before adding Mark Selby and Andrew Higginson to his victims, before running out of steam against Campbell.
The action moves to the South West of England as the rescheduled EPTC4 takes place at the SWSA in Gloiucester from Thursday through Sunday.
