Adam Benn Smith

Adam Benn Smith, relegated to the GB9 Challenge Cup last season, has won the latest round in Barnsley. The North East potter beat Bartek Czapski 9-4 to lift the title on Saturday night.

Czapski had his best run in a GB9 event by reaching the final and in doing so defeated some very notable players, Mike Rogers, Jonny Cooper and Anthony Ginn before coming up against Smith.

Smith probably had the trickier run to the final when he beat Steve Petty 9-8 in the quarter-finals and Damian Massey 9-5 in the semi-finals.

Smith’s win means that he secures promotion back into the Pro Cup division for the 2010 season, something that from the outset he has tried to do.

From a zero starting point in terms of the rankings he had his work cut out but performed very solidly all season, picking up two tournament victories and a runner-up place as well from the six events.

Adam Benn Smith finished top of the Challenge Cup rankings and the other promoted players are as follows:

1. Adam Benn Smith
2. Anthony Ginn
3. Matt Ford
4. Damian Massey
5. Steve Petty
6. Martin Chapman
7. Andy Appleton
8. Jonny Cooper

Three of these players started on zero this season and two, Ginn and Petty, were competing in their first full seasons. The 2010 season will really start next week with the first qualification tournament.