Workington Veterans Club captain Kevin Basnett delivered a composed and commanding performance to capture the L&L Property Contractors Snooker League Singles Handicap KO title for a record 11th time.
He defeated Station Road Club’s current county snooker champion, Kevin Kirkham 4–0 in the final held at Workington’s United Club.
The opening frame began between the two lowest handicappers in the league with Kirkham (Scr) in first, but in pushing to gain an early advantage the Station Road cueist let Basnett (Scr) in for three blacks followed by a telling safety shot.
Kirkham battled hard to try and craft an opening but Basnett’s measured tactical play allowed him to gradually tighten his grip as the frame entered the colours.
Leading by 22 points the five- times county singles champion soon crafted an opening to enable him to pot yellow and green and leave Kirkham requiring snookers.
Searching for a snooker Kirkham tried his best but it was just a couple of shots later before Basnett calmly dispatched blue and pink to seal the frame 65–29 and move ahead.
Kirkham struck first again in frame two with an excellent long red but as the Station Road ace was unable to capitalise Basnett’s safety game seemed to be denying him the rhythm he was trying to establish.
As each half chance was punished, Basnett steadily built momentum amassing nearly 50 points in three consecutive visits to eventually record a dominant 59–2 victory and double his advantage.
Frame three followed a similar pattern to frame one as Kirkham opened strongly with a break of 19 but with a sporting gesture that no one spotted the Station Road player called a foul on himself as he feathered the cue ball.
Showing no mercy Basnett immediately took advantage, drilling home a long red before producing the best contribution of the final with a superb break of 45.
Looking more confident as each pot dropped Basnett continued to apply relentless pressure, backed up with some ruthless tactical snooker.
Kirkham continued to battle, however, as each small opening was punished and Basnett coasted to a 69–26 victory to move within one frame of the title.
Needing a response in frame four Kirkham looked determined as he opened with two reds and colours.
Nevertheless, with the next pot unfortunately seeing an unsuccessful split of the pack of reds, the Station Road cueist was faced with a safety shot.
As the resultant stroke failed to get Basnett into the sort of trouble Kirkham was hoping for, the Vets captain flipped the advantage and made two reds and colours followed by a break of 30 to eventually lead by 22 with the just the last six balls remaining.
A snooker by Basnett on the yellow soon followed, and with Kirkham failing in the attempted escape the Station Road star had seen enough as he conceded the frame at 57-31 for Basnett to take his record 11th title with a 4-0 match victory.
This is the last final of the season.
The league’s presentation night is on Friday, June 5, in Workington Working Men’s Club – Station Road Club – featuring main tour pro and 2020 World Snooker Shootout champion, Michael Holt.
It’s £15 a ticket and all are welcome. 7pm start. Buffet is included in the ticket price and Our Harry will also be doing a small set during the half time break.
