Former champion Lynette Horsburgh suffered heartbreak at the Foster's World 8-Ball Pool Championships in Blackpool Thursday night.
The Blackpool star became the first seed to tumble at the tournament, beaten 6-5 by Jo Kent. But there was no such alarm for nine-time champion Sue Thompson who cruised into the last 16.
England international Barbara Taylor, beaten by Horsburgh in the 2008 final at the Imperial Hotel, also safely came through her opening hurdle. But the night belonged to Northern Ireland international Kent, on the wrong end of a 6-5, last 16 score line against Thompson in 2009.
This time she held her nerve in an 11th and deciding frame to stun local star Horsburgh. Defending champion Thompson opened her campaign with a 6-0 whitewash of Kent's fellow Irish international, Mary Cunningham, And Taylor, who underwent major shoulder surgery after last year's championships, defeated Scotland's Jodie Holt 6-3.
Welsh international Sharon Dickson, a former World Masters champion, was another top star who failed to progress. However, her 6-4 defeat by Carly Smith was less of a surprise. Smith has been in excellent form for England in the group stages of the team event. And the former National champion from Peterborough proved too strong as she reached the last 16.
Second seed Emma Cunningham made up for elder sister Mary's defeat, whitewashing Australia Tania McClure 6-0.
The current World EightBall Pool Competition is currently taking place at Imperial Hotel Blackpool until the 9th of July.
This article was taken from World Eightball Pool Federation.
Blackpool Snooker Company provide Snooker Tables, Pool Tables as well as Darts and other related products across the Fylde coast and most of Lancashire
.jpg){kind=logo}
