Bar Billiards: Gallienne finally regains the world title

Monday 09 December 2024

Trevor Gallienne is the Bar Billiards world champion again.

He had been on the wrong end of the results in the last three World Championship finals.

But this time around he held his nerve to secure the title for the first time since his triumph in 2008, and his fourth one in total.

The 43rd edition of the Bar Billiards World Championship was held at its traditional home of the Merton Hotel in Jersey. The weekend was made up of separate challenges – the Individuals tournament and the 'Peter Noel Memorial Trophy' doubles tournament – to see who would be crowned 2024 World Champions.

Sunday is always focused on the Individuals with the last-64 draw taking place after the initial group stages earlier in the weekend.

Guernsey had two representatives in the semi finals.

The first was Ian Champion who played Michael Wilson in a back-and-forth event, with both players seemingly trying their best not to progress. Eventually Wilson managed to keep more than he lost, while the 2-0 score line seemed to suggest more of a one-sided match than it was.

The second semi-final was between former champions in Dave Ingram and Gallienne, a contest both players deserved to win. Ingram's first leg lead of 6,000 would usually place a player in good stead to progress. However, Gallienne would not give in. Game two saw the Sarnian arrive at the table and score slowly and effectively to overhaul Ingram 9,430 – 7,780.

Wilson was in his first final.

For Gallienne it was his fourth consecutive final with hopes of reversing the result of the previous three defeats.

Both players started the game in a nervy fashion, and a scrappy leg saw both lose far more points than they kept. Leg two was not much better, although Gallienne kept more than Wilson to take the title.

Kevin Tunstall and Gerry Fitzjohn won the doubles tournament.

Pictured top: Trevor Gallienne (left) and Michael Wilson.