By Elliott West
Introduction
The 2002 LG Cup was held from 5 to 13 October 2002 at the Guild Hall in Preston, Lancashire. This was the second year of the tournament having this title, formerly known as the Grand Prix. Staged at the time when the snooker calendar only had eight tournaments in the season, this was the first of the 2002-03 season, preceding the British Open, and was televised on the BBC. An event that held a prize fund of £597,200 and a winner’s share of £82,500.
This was another snooker competition in a long list that produced a surprise winner. A player that started off the tournament with odds of 150-1, a complete outsider, and nicknamed the “Limpet” by John Parrott. Someone who despite being diagnosed with the degenerative back condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis, a condition that requires regular steroid injections, making this feat even more remarkable and well deserved after so many years of hard work.
The Tournament
Last 32 (Best of 9 frames)
At the outset of this competition, Ray Reardon turned 70 and Alex Higgins announced that he would enter the World Championship qualifiers. Despite the year, most of the legends of the game were still playing and in the last 32, a mouthwatering meeting of two greats of the sport took place. After not meeting each other on the table for seven years, Steve David was drawn against Jimmy White. Such was the popularity of this match that over a thousand people queued for more than an hour outside the Preston Guildhall to bear witness to this spectacle. A match that Steve Davis narrowly won 5-4 after initially leading 3-1. White became one of nine players from the top 16 who failed to make it through to the last 16.
Peter Ebdon was the highest-ranked player to fall at this hurdle, falling victim to Fergal O’Brien 5-4. The No3 seed was able to produce a string of centuries in the match but the problem was, so was his opponent, a run of four centuries between them. It was a match that Peter walked away scratching his head, wondering why he had lost. Ken Doherty and Matthew Stevens were the other two top 16 players to go out, losing to Patrick Wallace 5-3 and David Gray 5-1 respectively.
Quinten Hann, who was spending his first season on the professional tour and had made it into the top 16, lost in an agonising clash with Michael Holt, going 3-1 up and then 4-2 down to his opponent, eventually losing in the decider by inadvertently potting the black and allowing Michael to lay a killer snooker that he wasn’t able to recover from. Wins also came for Chris Small who defeated Joe Perry 5-2, Nigel Bond who defeated Joe Swail 5-3, Graeme Dott lost to Gerard Greene 5-1, Mark King was defeated by Jimmy Mitchie 5-2.
Last 16 (Best of 9 frames)
Ronnie O’Sullivan won his match with Anthony Hamilton 5-2, missing out on a chance to score a 147 break but the same could not be said of Mark Williams who in a match with Steve Davis, looked the favorite from the outset by Davis at 45, the oldest player in the contest, produced some magical snooker, rolling back the years and crushed the Welshman 5-1. The first time he had reached a quarter-final since the 1999 British Open, ironically defeating Williams 5-2 on that occasion. A win that produced rapturous applause from a thoroughly entertained audience.
The same could not be said for John Higgins who was sent packing by an inspired Chris Small, losing 5–1 and Stephen Hendry produced an error-strewn appearance with Paul Hunter, defeated 5-3. However, Ronnie O’Sullivan was able to pull his match out of the fire with Michael Holt. A mid-session interval chat with the legendary Derek Hill, made him reevaluate and when he returned, he was a different player, punishing his opponent for his mistakes and producing a very fluent snooker to win 5-3.
Alan McManus and Gerard Greene, both thought they were on their way home until they performed an escapologist act with their opponents. Playing Stephen Lee and Fergal O’Brien respectively, both losers were left mulling over their mistakes. Lee lost 4-5 to McManus and it was by the same margin for Fergal O’Brien.
Jimmy Mitchie’s absence from a quarter-final appearance dated back to the 1999 British Open, when he made the last four but this barren spell ended when he beat Patrick Wallace 5-4. His impressive victory, sent his opponent back to Northern Ireland, thanks to runs of 50 and 54 in the deciding frame.
David Gray completed the semi-final lineup by defeating Nigel Bond 5-4. The provisionally ranked number 17, came from 4-2 in the match to defeat Bond 5-4. Nigel must have been kicking himself as the result was a carbon copy of his performance against Stephen Lee in their semi-final at the Regal Scottish Open where Nigel led the match 5-1 only to lose 6-5.
Quarter-Finals ( Best of 9 frames)
Alan McManus beat David Gray 5-3
McManus fought back from a 3-1 deficit in this match at the interval. They say an interval can turn a match around and it was just enough time for the Scot to focus. Coming out from the break, Alan rapidly brought the match back to 3-3, which clearly agitated his opponent and the rest was won on Alan knowing every inch of a snooker table and how to create pots from every angle under the sun.
Steve Davis beat Paul Hunter 5-4
Davis carried on his blistering form where he had left off with Mark Williams. Despite Paul leading the match 3-0 and then 4-2, Davis pulled out all the stops to bring this match to a decider. In a deciding frame that was full of nerves, tense and lengthy, lasting 46 minutes, Davis eventually laid a fiendish snooker and by the time Hunter did the designated ball on his sixth attempt, there was no way back and the match was over. There were also wins for Chris Small who produced a sensational win against Ronnie O’Sullivan, beating him with a thumping 5-1 win and Jimmy Mitchie defeated Gerard Greene in a tense 5-4 victory.
Semi-Finals (Best of 11 frames)
Alan MacManus beat Steve Davis 6-4
Alan conceded this was a very tough victory as he went through to his 15th career final. In a match that lasted 4 hours and 15 minutes, there was plenty of grinding and little fluency. The Scot won this match with a positive mental attitude and Davis the chance to be the second-oldest champion since Doug Mountjoy in the 1988 UK Championship. The eighth frame was re-racked twice and both players left this late finish bleary-eyed.
Chris Small beat Jimmy Mitchie 6-2
Chris Small achieved his childhood dream of reaching a final but conceded that he had never felt pressure like that before in his life. Despite lacking fluency and a tightening cueing arm, overcame his drawbacks. His opponent had a chance to come back at 4-2 down but couldn’t claw the deficit back, allowing Small to take the required frame with a 39 break. Mitchie could still leave the competition with his head held high though as he achieved his biggest payout of £21,250 in his eleven years as a professional and enough ranking points to keep him firmly in the top 64.
The Final (Best of 17 frames)
Chris Small beat Alan McManus 9-5
This was a heartfelt win for Chris Small and showed that despite someone lacking experience, determination can win the day. He won seven of the eight closing frames and came from 4-2 down thanks to several uncharacteristic errors from his fellow Scot. Small was a journeyman and achieved his dream by chipping away at each player that crossed his path, dissecting their game, and punishing their mistakes. He had already seen off John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan and so Alan McManus would face the same fate. A win that witnessed by his wife Clare and proud father Benny. Chris sadly had to retire from the sport in 2005 but went on to carve out a very successful career as a snooker coach.
