Jamie Walker wins World Indoor Singles crown

On Jan 23, 2023 1,839

Potters Resorts once again created its own unique magical conclusion to its 2023 World Indoor Championship of events, bringing the curtain down in its 25th continual year of sponsorship with another riveting Imagine Cruising World Open Singles finale (writes Anne Dunwoodie).

This wasn’t just any final … this one would be remembered for a long, long time and go down in history with two ‘qualifiers’ winning a final berth – meaning that a ‘qualifier’ winning the title for the first time ever – with both finalists navigating their passage from the qualifying event all the way to the title decider – with not a World Top 16 Ranked player in sight and that honour fell to Jason Banks from Scotland and England’s Jamie Walker.

Expectations were high for a quality title decider, and both players didn’t disappoint, contributing to one of the best, with Northampton’s Jamie Walker edging home in the tightest of games 8-7, 7-7 to pick up the unique Langham Glass Trophy and a prize purse of 50,000-pounds.

Jamie Walker got off to the best start, scooping a treble on the opening end followed by a double to lead 5-0 in the best of 2 sets of 11 ends final, and that really was the difference in the set.

Jason dug deep and scored seven shots to Jamie’s two over the ensuing eight ends – to stand all square at 7-7 going into the last end. He held the necessary shot to take the set, but little flick from Lady Luck saw Jamie glance the holding shot out of the head and in turn counted a match winning singles to win 8-7.

Jamie got off to a good start in the second with a single and double, and once again Jason stood firm to take a 6-3 lead after six ends, and still held a 7-4 advantage two ends later at eight ends.

However, in another nail biting finish, this time Jamie reeled off singles on the last three ends to level the set at 7-7 which was enough for him to take the game by one and a half sets to a half and celebrate becoming the first ever ‘qualifier’ to lift the title.

An outstanding display through-out the event from both players … what a final though – congratulations to both. What an achievement.

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