Stephen O’Hagan (+18 handicap) is the new Window Outlet Cockermouth and District Snooker League Singles KO Handicap Champion after a thrilling 4-3 final victory over Paul Vickers (+18).
An exciting singles handicap KO final proved to be a fitting end to another hugely competitive season as the Station B cueist put his teams’ disappointment to one side - having been pipped in the last game of the season to the Division One trophy – to win probably the hardest title the league has to offer.
A fine match ended dramatically as O’Hagan won with a double on the pink but only after Vickers had put himself back in a winning position with a successful snooker on the blue.
O’Hagan’s determination throughout the match was as strong as ever and, even though this was the Station B cueists first league singles title victory, the pressure didn’t show as he held his nerve in the closest of finishes.
It was 2-2 and then Frame five proved to be the most one-sided game of the final as O’Hagan started with a break of 30.
This largely went unchallenged as the Station B player moved through the gears to win the frame with room to spare 74-14.
An early break of 25 by Vickers in frame six was soon pulled back as O’Hagan countered with a smaller contribution of 18. But O’Hagan was left needing snookers towards the end of the game and Vickers eventually won 64-30.
In the decider, O’Hagan used all his experience to control the frame throughout the early stages and even though Vickers tried hard, O’Hagan took a 27-point lead into the colours. As O’Hagan effectively potted frame ball to leave Vickers needing snookers, the game looked over.
Nevertheless, a successful snooker on the blue from Vickers left the Flimby cueist in with a chance of winning.
A superb pot on the blue looked like obtaining perfect position on the pink but, as the cue ball rested on the side cushion, a safety was the only option.
Dumping the pink on the opposite side cushion, Vickers looked to have left O’Hagan with a tricky safety but in taking the bull by the proverbial horns, the Station B captain doubled the pink into the middle pocket for a very satisfying frame (62-43 win), match and title win.
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