Outclassed Holley back from the dead

ADY HOLLEY has finally won the title he was after, but he didn't half do it the hard way. Down 1-3 at the break and looking every inch resigned to Martyn Desperques retaining the island crown, Holley staged a fine comeback to take the last three frames.

Twice an island billiards champion, this was the first snooker title for the amiable 32-year-old.

'I can't believe it; he's miles better than me but the saying is that every dog has his day,' he said after collecting the trophy.

'He had chances to increase his lead; it was like me coming back from the dead. After the break I was more relaxed and I had a bit of luck.'

There was more fortune in his favour after that 10-minute break following the fourth frame, but Holley also made some fine pots, especially on tight angles to the middle pockets.

Desperques lost a bit of rhythm and momentum during that break. He had been on a roll and if the fifth frame had been played immediately after the fourth, he would likely have sealed a win with little fuss.

'It all just went. I could have done without that break,' said Desperques.

The semi-final defeat of Seb Priaulx saw Desperques knock in a 126 break during the match and a 130 in practice beforehand. Last night he had a 57 in frame four and a 54 in five, but little else.

Holley - who had beaten Adam Shorto in his semi-final, managed only a 44 and a 47, but importantly he ground out the points in those last three frames.

The 44 in five was such a turning point. Desperques broke, Holley sank a red but fluffed the black and then the defending champion rattled in 54 in no time.

He looked composed, quickly moving between pots, sinking six blacks in the run but jawed what would have been his eighth red into the middle.

Holley played safe, Desperques missed a red, and then Holley slowly, carefully knocked in the 44.

Five more points for Desperques, then a missed yellow. With just the colours left, Holley was down 45-59 with the white tight between the yellow and a baulk pocket.

A great safety sent the white behind the black and left the yellow tucked by the green.

Desperques swerved to make contact, but Holley cut a fine shot to the centre pocket and cleared the rest of the colours to take the frame 72-59.

Holley had a 31 break in the sixth but missed a black, Desperques made a red but missed the same black and Holley was back at the table.

A slice of luck kept the white in the centre jaws without dropping and though yellow and green were off their spots, he cleared the colours to take the frame and force a decider.

Two Desperques fouls, one a miss, gave Holley a kick-start. Five visits later he was 34-0 up. A great long red, another slid gently into the centre and a third rolled into the corner with the white held perfectly for the pink helped him along to 57-0 and when that became 71-4 the game was as good as dead.

When Desperques fluked the final red while trying to force the first of many needed snookers, he conceded and the title was gone.

'Against someone as good as Martyn, you should play the table, but he is such a good player that it is difficult to compete and he puts you under a lot of pressure,' said Holley.