Blunn Claims Second Welsh Title
Daniel Blunn has claimed the World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) Welsh Open title for a second time following a 3-1 victory against Gary Taylor in the final held at Redz Snooker Club, Cwmbran.
The winner of the inaugural staging of the unique 6-red event held back in 2017, Group 4 number one Blunn becomes the first player to win the tournament twice from its four editions so far and takes his overall WDBS title haul to a record 14 since the Tour was formed in 2015.
Having progressed through Saturday’s round robin group stage without the loss of a frame, Blunn defeated Dean Simmons, Ronnie Allen and three-time Group 7 winner Dylan Rees to reach the title match.
Awaiting him there would be former Hull Open finalist Gary Taylor, who became the first deaf player to reach the final of the mixed classification event. Like Blunn, Taylor made smooth progress through the group stage, before seeing off Lee Hague, Andy Johnson and David Church to book his place in the final.
The opeing frame would go to the former champion as Blunn claimed the early advantage, only for Taylor to draw level in the second, Blunn missing a tricky black with the rest to double his advantage.
The Sutton Coldfield star was not to be denied, however, as he responded to the setback by claiming the following two frames to seal victory and a record-extending 14th WDBS title.
Success crowned a perfect weekend for Blunn, who during his quarter-final victory against Ronnie Allen had made the tournament-high break of 54 – a run that could have been a rare total clearance but for a miss on the final blue.
Mixed Classification Doubles
In the mixed classification Challenge Cup tournament for players who did not qualify for the knockout stages of the main competition, there was victory for Kal Mattu and Jason Ellis, who defeated Nigel Brasier and Gabriel Coyle 2-1 in the final.
With the pairs drawn together following a random draw on Sunday morning, it was WDBS veteran Mattu and relative newcomer Ellis, who entered his first event at the Hull Open back in May, who would claim their first title together.
WDBS would like to thank everyone who contributed to a successful event, including our hosts at Redz Snooker Club, event sponsors Vizion Insurance Brokers and of course all of the players, suppoters and officials who took part.
The WDBS Tour continues with the 2022 Stockport Open, which runs from 30 September – 2 October and remains open for entry online.
