Sunday 18 December

Cousins is the Champion of Champions

Tom Cousins continued his fantastic form to win his second Ultimate Pool title in just eight days and wrap up the 2022 season with victory at the Champion of Champions Shootout and collect a top prize of £15,000.

After a difficult few outings on the sport’s top tier, the real Cousins stood up in Blackpool last weekend claiming his maiden title within the organisation at Pro Series Event 7. That win saw the Welshman qualify for Saturday’s 16-player one-day extravaganza featuring Series event winners from both the Pro and Challenger sections this year.

The two-time world champion began against another cueist coming in with confidence – Challenger Series Event 7 victor Ian Ali – but he progressed to the evening session after a 5-3 win.

Cousins then eliminated Challenger Series number one Callum Singleton 5-1 in the quarter-finals before break clearing in the deciding frame against professional number one and six-time world champion Michael Hill to win 5-4 in what was a last four classic.

2022 Champion of Champions Final.jpg

Coming through the other side of the draw was another former world champion in Jack Whelan.

A fellow first season professional on the Ultimate Pool circuit, Whelan was also looking for a title double having won at Pro Series Event 3. Whilst you can never really relax in this fast shootout format, The Wonder took control early on in all three of his matches leading to the final, defeating Richie Oliver 5-2, Jez Graham 5-2 and then Stevie Dempsey 4-3 in the semi-finals.

A mouthwatering final between two of the world’s best players over the past decade and longer, Top Cat was not to be denied. He made up for some unforced errors with a display of brilliant shotmaking – and despite a golden break from Whelan in frame four – he ran out a comfortable 5-1 winner to lift the trophy in front of the live television cameras.

Tom Cousins.jpg