In the inaugural Mark Lovell Challenge Cup final, it was the now seasoned Challenge division player Eric Dockerty up against Courtney Symons, who was making his best ever run in a GB9 competition.

Courtney Symons - Mark Lovell Challenge Cup Winner (© Andy Warden)

Symons’ run to the final began in the Round 2: a 9-3 victory over Greg Jansz saw him through to the last 64, where a 9-2 win over Louis Clarke ensured his path through to the last 32 and a meeting with Wantage’s Neil Craycraft. 9-4 was the scoreline in favour of Symons there, and he disposed of Derby’s Jack Whelan in the last 16 by the same score. His opponent in the last 8 was the reigning Southern Masters champion Kevin Uzzell. The series of convincing margins of victory continued despite his stern opposition, with a 9-5 win this time taking him through the semi-finals for the first time. Here he met Benji Buckley who was also looking to make his first Challenge division final, but his ruthless form continued and a 9-2 win ensured it was Ipswich’s Symons who reached the final showdown. Here he met Eric Dockerty, making his second Challenge Cup final appearance in the space of three events.

Eric had started his run in Round 3, commencing with a 9-3 win over Jon-Paul Murrow to make him into the last 32. Penzance’s Robin Cripps was Dockerty’s next victim, losing . An excellent display in his first GB9 event from Spain’s Juan Carlos Exposito was ended in the last 16, as Dockerty came through a thrilling hill-hill battle 9 racks to 8 to set up a semi-final against Liam Waterworth. He breathed ever so slightly easier here, coming through 9-6 and setting up a potentially mouth-watering clash with World 9-Ball Championship semi-finalist Mark Gray. That potential wasn’t very well lived up to however, as Dockerty pulled off the performance of his life to win through 9-3 and take a well deserved spot in his second final.

With two players in such tremendous form coming into the final, potential was there once again for a gripping encounter. The result, however, was anything but – a clinical, professional performance from Courtney Symons ensured that brought with it a 9-2 victory and saw him take home his first Challenge Cup title. Congratulations also go to Eric Dockerty – his run to the final sees him take the number 1 ranking in the Challenge division for the first time and putting him in pole position for promotion to the Pro Cup next season.