Kissendal, Blagrove shoot way into pool final

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Sunil 'Termite' Kissendal and Noel 'Schoolboy' Blagrove are through to the final of the Kingston Beer/Pool Tables and Billiards Supplies Ultimate all-island singles pool tournament, after impressive semi-final wins on Sunday night at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road.

Kissendal, who is not attached to any club, came from a game down to beat Marvin Grey from Hot Shots 3-1 in the first semi-final. Blagrove, who hails from Big Man Corner Pool Bar in MoBay, blanked former number one ranked, Roy Letts, 3-0 in a flawless display of shooting.

Sunday's final between the youthful Blagrove and the more experienced Kissendal is worth going miles to see. Both are not only unbeaten, but by virtue of their progress in this tournament, have established themselves as the top two players in the island at present.

On Saturday, Kissendal set the stage when putting away the previously unbeaten Ewart Hall from Hots Shot 3-1, coming from behind, in the first big clash. He also whipped Jermaine Green 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

Blagrove, on the other hand, drubbed Gary Manning 3-0, as well as Geovanni HoSang from Eagle Eyes 3-0 in the quarter-finals, before overwhelming Letts by a similar scoreline in the semis.

First place prize

The final, for a first prize of $75,000, will be played on Sunday, December 21 at Indigo Bar and Brasseire, 120a Constant Spring Road, starting at 5 p.m. Letts and Grey will meet in the third place play-off for $25,000. The loser will receive $15,000, while the players finishing from fifth to eighth place - HoSang, Leon Mellis, Freddie McDonald and Jermaine Green - will each receive $5,000.

Meanwhile, the team final for a whopping $200,000, will be played on Saturday and Sunday also at Indigo Bar, starting at 5 p.m.

In the first quarter-final on Saturday, the unbeaten Hotta Shots will oppose St Georges from May Pen in Clarendon, while Hot Shots take on Portmore's Cue Plus on an adjacent table.