Billiards News -
At 2008 World Professional Billiards, Leeds, Great Britain

Group A -
Mike Russell bt Michael Kreuziger 1068-177 (Mike Russell scored 588 break)
Devendra Joshi bt Gary Rogers 720-253
Mike Russell bt Gary Rogers 980-207 (Mike Russell scored breaks of 272, 203)
Devendra Joshi bt Michael Kreuziger 809-241
Michael Kreuziger bt Gary Rogers 370-301
Mike Russell bt Devendra Joshi 741-501 (Mike Russell scored 214 break)

Mike started well defending his title ... Devendra scored 2 good victories to qualify for quarter-final from Group A with Mike.

Group B -
David Causier bt Sourav Kothari 918-302
Sourav Kothari bt Dhruv Sitwala 561-378
David Causier bt Dhruv Sitwala 858-533 (David Causier scored 214 break)
Dhruv Sitwala bt Paul Bennett 534-483
Sourav Kothari bt Paul Bennett 541-488 (Sourav Kothari scored 215 break)
David Causier bt Paul Bennett 706-583 (David Causier scored 273 break)

Sourav Kothari played well enough to win against 2 solid players to qualify for quarter-final with David Causier.

Group C -
Geet Sethi bt Rupesh Shah 671-459
Peter Gilchrist bt Alok Kumar 945-447
Geet Sethi bt Alok Kumar 887-506
Peter Gilchrist bt Rupesh Shah 615-433
Rupesh Shah bt Alok Kumar 744-533
Peter Gilchrist bt Geet Sethi 749-628 (Geet Sethi scored 256 break)

In first 2 matches Geet didn't manage any big break, with his high standard it was struggle ... He scored 200+ break against Peter Gilchrist but lost match against more consistent player ... But this loss bring unwanted match, from Indian point of view, against Group D winner Pankaj.

Group D -
Pankaj Advani bt Ian Williamson 742-308
Ian Williamson bt Mark Hirst 607-154
Pankaj Advani bt Mark Hirst 806-472 (Pankaj scored 256 break)
Chris Shutt bt Mark Hirst 833-392
Chris Shutt bt Ian Williamson 976-405 (Chris Shutt scored 236 break)
Pankaj Advani bt Chris Shutt 750-731

Pankaj played well enough to win matches, importantly against 2005 winner and last year's runner-up Chris Shutt ... Pankaj with Chris qualified for quarter-final.

Quarter-finals -
Mike Russell Vs Sourav Kothari
David Causier Vs Devendra Joshi
Peter Gilchrist Vs Chris Shutt
Pankaj Advani Vs Geet Sethi