As the penultimate week of the DVARD summer league drew to a close, the finalists in this season’s knockout singles handicap were confirmed.
Defending knockout champion Kevin Basnett (Scr) first had to overcome the challenge from Whitehaven’s Richard Kirkham (+60).
In the opening frame, and despite the handicap, Kirkham more than held his own taking the frame 101 – 30. The handicap differential made Basnett work hard to level the match with a 98 – 80 score line which included a 47 break.
Unphased by this, Kirkham regained the initiative with an 88 – 31 third frame win. Basnett’s experience meant a composed fourth frame leveller 86 – 73, proving the handicap to be about right for both players.
At 2-2 with the deciding frame to play, Basnett found himself 83 – 20 down to Kirkham and looked to be on his way out of the tournament.
With six reds remaining (in which five were tied up on the cushions), the Seaton player was left with a difficult opportunity from a safety attempt from Kirkham.
The former county champion managed to pot a long red along the cushion which functioned as the catalyst for a Houdini-like 72 clearance to pip Kirkham to the final 92 – 83.
In the second semi-final, with the hope of a father versus son final thwarted, son Kevin Kirkham (+20) remained the family’s remaining hope for a place in the final.
In the former county champion’s way was the tournament’s in-form player Geoff Smith (+60) of Workington.
The opening frame almost went to the wire as Smith earned a tight 92 – 77 win on the pink.
Buoyed by his early lead, Smith recorded a 96 – 54 second frame victory for a 2-0 lead. Despite an increased effort from Kirkham in the third some great doubles and safety play kept him at bay allowing Smith to book his place in the final with a 118 – 82 match-winning frame.
The final between Basnett (Scr) and Smith (+60) will be concluded on presentation night at the United Club at 7.30pm on Monday 17th October followed by a buffet and prize-giving.
Meanwhile some league players took the opportunity this week to complete some rearranged fixtures. Seaton’s Paul Smith concluded his season on a high note with a 3-2 win over Workington’s Chris Hunter.
Workington’s Darren Lawson made his chance of snatching the division two title all the more difficult as he was beaten 3-2 by Richard Kirkham. Long time leader Andy Moore from Whitehaven simply needs to avoid a whitewash in both his remaining fixtures (one of which is versus Lawson) to take the title.
Meanwhile in the top-flight the only place still undecided is the third spot which will be claimed by Cockermouth’s Andrew Mitchelhill providing he avoids a whitewash in his final tie of the season against Sal Cakmak.
