Chesterfield pool player shoots to top of GB rankings

Benji Buckley made it to number one by winning the 2020 GB9 Midlands Classic held in Telford.

The competition attracted a top-quality field, including Mosconi Cup quartet Chris Melling, Jayson Shaw, Mark Gray and Darren Appleton.

But Buckley defeated Shaw, one of the pool world’s greats, 11-8 in the final, fighting back from 5-2 down.

Meanwhile, in the Lennon’s Darts League, victories for Neil Hardwick, Pete Darrin and Chris Lacey were the highlights of the latest action in Division One.

Hardwick threw legs of 17 and 18 darts in his 4-2 win over Andy McCracken, who responded with a 180.

Darrin was back to his old ways, defeating John Clifford 5-1 with legs of 15 and 16 arrows.

And Lacey checked out on 149 and also threw a 15-dart leg in his 5-1 eclipse of Martin Dobson.

The other two matches in the top flight ended in 3-3 draws, with Scott McCabe firing a 180 against Brian Snell, and Richard Hanson throwing a 180 and a 15-dart leg against Richard Hughes, who replied with a 14-dart leg.

In Division Two, Chris Grogan, who is flying at present, unleashed a 118 checkout in a 6-1 whitewash, while 5-1 wins were recorded by Neil Bradley, with the help of a 180, and Andy Watson.

Further 180s were supplied by Steve Coupe in a 3-3 draw with Tony Bramley, and by Dale Lyons in his 4-2 defeat against Hayden Buxton in Division Three.