LONDON: The professional Snooker player and the former World Snooker Championship semi-finalist, Gary Wilson, got off to a winning start as the cueist among other players tried their hands at another pool sport over the summer break.

The brand new 9-ball event, announced in September last year has tempted a few snooker players including Wilson, Martin Gould, and Fraser Patrick.

The English cueist Wilson took on his American opponent Blaine Barcus in round one of the ongoing championship and picked up a comprehensive 9-6 win to start his campaign on a high.

Former German Masters and Snooker Shoot-Out champion Gould, on the other hand, thumped his Spaniard opponent Tashunka Schultz by the scores of 9-4 in the Best of 17.

Gould consistently broke from the centre and failed to pot the balls but Schultz, who appeared rusty kept handing the chances to the former, which he availed brilliantly.

Scottish cueist Patrick also enjoyed an amazing start to his UK Open Pool Championship as the 109th-ranked snooker player sealed an easy 9-6 victory over David Black 9-6 to set up a second-round meeting with Oliver Szolnoki.

Wilson meets Chris Alexander in round two, while Gould’s opponent is yet to be decided.

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