Aussies in contention for World Masters titles
Published Thu 22 Aug 2024
Two Australians will play off for World Masters titles tonight following the penultimate day of action in Amsterdam.
Geoff Davenport has the opportunity to become the most accomplished World Masters player of all time having made it through to the Men's 65+ Final.
Davenport beat beat George Kousseff in straight games in his semi-final and must now beat second seed and three-time winner Pierr Roodt from South Africa to achieve Masters immortality with a seventh title.
Like Davenport, Brian Cook was also on a charge towards a seventh crown but was defeated by Barry Featherstone (ENG) in the Men's 75+ semis. Cook now plays Scotland's Ian Ross in a playoff for third.
In the Women's 60+ division, top seed Sue Hillier of Australia will play Scotland's Sue Strachan in the final on Thursday.
"Geez, she's a runner and a fighter!" said Hillier after her 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 win over Canada's Julie Multamaki.
Hillier won her first World Masters on her debut in Hong Kong in 2014.
"I had a mid-life crisis at 50 and thought, 'I'll try Masters!'," she recalled. She then won the 55+ title in Charlottesville in 2018 and stands on the verge of a third tomorrow. The 61-year-old added: "I just love it here. You meet so many people and it's a chance to see different parts of the world."
Gaye Mitchell will also contest the Women's 70+ decider after a four-game win in her semi.
Australians fighting for top 10 finishes on the final day of competition are:
- 6:00pm AEST | Men's 70+ 5th/6th playoff | [5/8] Michael Brown (AUS) v [9/16] Rodney Wood (RSA)
- 6:40pm AEST | Women's 60+ 9th/10th playoff | [9/16] Beverley Brockway (ENG) v [3/4] Sue Williams (AUS)
- 6:40pm AEST | Women's 60+ 3rd place playoff | [3/4] Sarah Nelson (AUS) v [2] Susan Davis (AUS)
- 7:20pm AEST | Men's 75+ 3rd place playoff | [1] Brian Cook (AUS) v [2] Ian Ross (SCO)
- 7:20pm AEST | Women's 70+ Final | [1] Pauline Douglas (SCO) v [2] Gaye Mitchell (AUS)
- 7:20pm AEST | Women's 70+ 9th/10th playoff | [9/16] Judith Fox (AUS) v [9/16] Charmaine Baker (RSA)
- 8:00pm AEST | Women's 75+ 3rd place playoff | [2] Marilyn Kennedy (AUS) v [3/4] Claire Bryars (FRA)
- 8:40pm AEST | Men's 75+ 9th/10th playoff | [5/8] Ted Gornall (CAN) v [17/32] Donald Weeheim (AUS)
- 8:40pm AEST | Women's 70+ 5th/6th playoff | [5/8] Catherine Woodhart (ENG) v [5/8] Khris Jane Wiacek (AUS)
- 9:20pm AEST | Men's 60+ 3rd place playoff | [3/4] Eamonn Price (ENG) v [3/4] Peter Gilbee (AUS)
- 10:00 pm AEST | Women's 60+ Final | [1] Sue Hillier (AUS) v [9/16] Sue Strachan (SCO)
- 10:00pm AEST | Men's 65+ Final | [1] Geoffrey Davenport (AUS) v [2] Pierr Roodt (RSA)
