Shaun Chipperfield & Karl Sutton set up a semi-final showdown with Andy Appleton & Michael Tomlinson on Finals Night after they won the latest Eative Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup Last 16 group with a match to spare.

The East Anglian duo ousted the opening group of the competition way back at the start of September via a memorable 6-reds shootout, but they didn’t require such last gasp drama on this occasion, on a nervy, but compelling night of action at the Players Pool & Snooker Lounge.

Chipperfield & Sutton – who played out a world championship final in 2016 – got the night underway with a 4-1 victory over Brian Halcrow & John Sullivan. This was followed by late replacements Andy Cragg & Zak Shepherd coming back from two frames down to draw 2-2 with Josh Kane & Jon McAllister.

Halcrow & Sullivan – statistically the best pair from the opening phase – bounced back with a dramatic 3-2 success over Kane & McAllister; Sullivan clearing up for maximum points with just seconds to go.

Match Four proved to be pivotal, putting Chipperfield & Sutton firmly in control as they defeated Cragg & Shepherd 3-1 to maintain their 100% record on the night.

Going into the final session, only Halcrow & Sullivan could deny the table-toppers by forcing a 6-reds shootout, but their hopes were extinguished when they lost 3-2 to Cragg & Shepherd.

The final match was academic to the already qualified Chipperfield & Sutton, although Kane & McAllister recorded a 4-0 victory to go level on points with Cragg & Shepherd in joint second.

In a subsequent 6-reds shootout to determine overall joint 5th and 9th tournament placings, Cragg & Shepherd registered a time of 30.16 seconds going first – a target not bettered by Kane & McAllister.

The final last 16 group takes place on Monday 24th January with a normal start time of 18.30GMT. It is another stellar group featuring Declan Brennan & Ronan McCarthy, Shuan Storry & Chris Day, Shane Thompson & Tom Cousins and Bryan Cumming & Scott Coventry.

Last 16, Group 3 Results

Shaun Chipperfield & Karl Sutton 4-1 Brian Halcrow & John Sullivan

Josh Kane & Jon McAllister 2-2 Andy Cragg & Zak Shepherd

Halcrow & Sullivan 3-2 Kane & McAllister

Chipperfield & Sutton 3-1 Cragg & Shepherd

Halcrow & Sullivan 2-3 Cragg & Shepherd

Chipperfield & Sutton 4-0 Kane & McAllister

Final Standings

1st) Chipperfield & Sutton 4 points

2nd) Cragg & Shepherd 3 points (won 6-reds shootout)

3rd) Kane & McAllister 3 points

4th) Halcrow & Sullivan 2 points