The first UK Pool Tour of 2014 saw 180 players battling for the coveted title. Some new faces along with some well-known names were added to the list of the UK’s finest amateur pool tour.

All eyes were on two of the tours new additions, Phil Harrison and Rob Chilton. Expectations were high and a surprise was in store for some with Chilton crashing out to Warrington’s finest, Phil Naylor. Unfortunately for Naylor his prize for defeating Chilton was a meeting with Harrison, who unceremoniously defeated him 7-0! Harrison continued this form until a meeting with potentially one of the players of the tournament, Shane Balding, resulted in a thrilling 7-6 defeat. Balding had already taken out a host of top players including the current Premier League Champion John Bowkett, former England U21 Richard Twomey and European Champion Jack Pople, amongst others.

Others making a name for themselves on the first tour included newcomers Derek Murphy and Steve Martin, who met in the quarter finals. Both had tough routes through, although Martin had arguably the toughest, defeating the likes of 2012 World Champion John Roe and former National Amateur Champion Rob Wharne. Martin won the encounter with Murphy 7-4 before losing out to Gavin Lomax 8-6 in an entertaining semi-final encounter. His attacking style and no fear approach to the game quickly found him a following and he’ll certainly be one to watch out for in the remaining 4 tours.

The final of tour 1 saw two of last year’s standout performers locking horns. The in-form Craig Waddingham took no prisoners on the way to the final dropping only 13 frames, an average of just over two frames per match! Lomax had a few close encounters on his run to the final, although no one managed to push him all the way to a decider. The final was, as would be expected with two such natural cueists, an attacking affair and brought about Waddingham’s closest game by far, which he narrowly edged with an 8-7 victory, picking up the trophy and a cheque for £2400.

TOUR 1 WINNER: CRAIG WADDINGHAM

TOUR 1 RUNNER UP: GAVIN LOMAX