Harrison takes tour 2

2018 UKPT Event 2 - Daventry

The first tour of the season saw Stoke’s Lee Kendall taking the title in emphatic fashion against Wigan’s David Stock. Both players would have been looking to capitalise on their early success and strengthen their placing at the top of the table. It was a contrasting tour for the two in this respect as Kendall continued his fine form with a great showing, making the semi finals before losing out to England teammate Ben Flack, whom he defeated in the last 32 of the first tour. Stock on the otherhand found himself in a tough first round match against England stalwart Jack Pople, a tough match for any player on the tour, who defeated him 7-2.

The first tour saw Phil Harrison narrowly losing out to Lee Kendall in the semi-final. For most people this would be a good showing but for Harrison, a regular tour winner, it was clearly a case of must try harder, and try he did! He produced not only a fantastic display of pool ability but also of bottle, overcoming two deciding frames, one in the quarters and the other in the final, with a clearance off his opponent’s break.

Harrison’s route to the final was by no means an easy one. A Premier League player, Darrell Whitworth, a high standard newcomer to the tour, Marvin Nestor, and a previous World finalist who is considered amongst the England team's best had to be overcome before meeting current European Champion Ben Flack in the final, a tough match for anyone.

Flack’s route to the final was certainly no easier; 3 Premier League players had to be overcome in his run up including habitual tour winner Tom Cousins and Tour 1 champion Lee Kendall. A number of close matches ensued, and Flack showed true grit and bottle to overcome each opponent with his relentless focus proving key to victory.

The final was a high standard affair as would be expected between two greats of the game and there was never more than a couple of frames to separate the two. In the end it was Harrison who would take it with a pin point clearance in the decider. This now leaves Kendall and Harrison tied for first place in the rankings as both have won a tour and made the semis, leaving each on 26 points.