Orville Clarke, Portmore Star Writer

Portmore's Sunil 'Termite' Kissendal defeated MoBay's Noel 'Schoolboy' Blagrove 4-2 to win the Kingston Beer/Pool Tables and Billiards Supplies Ultimate best of seven singles pool final at Indigo Bar and Brasserie, 120A Constant Spring Road, on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Cue Plus also from Portmore did not fare as well, yet they managed to finish in the money. They won $50,000 for having secured third place in the team competition, won by Big Man Corner from MoBay.

Big Man Corner, with Blagrove in the line-up, blanked the previously unbeaten Hotta Shot 3-0 in the team final to claim the whopping $200,000 first prize and championship trophy, with Hotta Shots securing $100,000.

top two players

In a much-anticipated singles final between the island's top two players, Kissendal used his experience to best advantage in putting away the 20-year-old Blagrove, securing the $75,000 prize and trophy in the process.

In the team final, Leon Mellis sent Big Man Corner ahead when he defeated Dean Blackwood 3-0 in the first singles match, while Blagrove and skipper Nicholas 'Kingfish' Linton teamed up for a similar 3-0 win over Richard Thompson and Renny Barrett in the doubles. Linton then sealed the issue with a fighting 3-2 victory over Barrett in the second singles match.

pressure

Kissendal raced into a 2-0 lead over his opponent in the singles final, but Blagrove fought back strongly to level the scores at 2-2. However, Kissendal won the fifth game in clinical fashion and proceeded to humble Blagrove in the sixth game, much to the delight of his supporters.

"Both of us were playing very well coming into the final," said Kissendal. "So it came down to who was stronger mentally and having put him under pressure from early, it made things easier for me.

"I was a bit unlucky to lose the fourth game which allowed him to level the scores at 2-2 when my cue ball backed up too far and sank in the side pocket after playing a tough shot, enabling Schoolboy to capitalise with two ball remaining. After that, I quickly regained focus and made no mistake," added Kissendal, who won a game against world-ranked number one female player, Allison Fisher, on her visit to Jamaica two years ago.

Hot Shots Pool Bar

Blagrove, who played flawless pool up to the final, lamented his game: "I know I could play better ... It was just a bad day for me and I would like to congratulate the new champion."

In the play-off for third, Marvin Gray from Hot Shots came from behind to clip Roy Letts from Cue Plus 3-2 to secure the $25,000 prize, with Letts picking up $15,000 for fourth.

The players who finished from fifth to eighth were Rohan McDonald, Jermaine Green, Geovanni HoSang and Leon Mellis, each receiving $5,000.

The presentation of trophies and prizes took place at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road, on Monday evening with Melissa Bennett, brand manager of Kingston Beer, and Anthony Ming, manager of Pool Tables and Billiards Supplies, handing out the prizes