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Baggaley Claims Third Senior Title
Andrew Baggaley celebrates his third senior national title
Play began pretty evenly until Pitchford gifts Baggaley a host of points, allowing him to take the first end 11-5.
Baggaley returns the favour in the second which Pitchford capitalizes on to make it 1 game all.
A failed drop shot from Baggaley in the third, and the crowd erupt, this gives Pitchford the momentum to take it all the way to 10-7, followed by some extremely powerful attacks, driving Baggaley right to the barriers until he could no longer return them. 2-1 to Pitchford.
The fourth set was extremely close, it could have gone either way, but again it goes to the Derbyshire player, Pitchford.
Baggaley starts the fifth well, going 6-2 up, dominating proceedings, he only lets Pitchford get 5 points on the board, finishing it off with a fast return down the edge of the table, keeping himself in contention.
There were more mind games coming from Baggaleys end of the table, Pitchford seemed pretty immune until this point.
Baggaley levels the score at 3-3
Baggaley gaining a lead in the latter part of the seventh end, gave Pitchford a task that was just too hard, sealing victory at 11-8 and claiming his third senior national title of his career.
Andrew Baggaley bt. Liam Pitchford 4-3 (11-5, 7-11, 7-11. 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8)
James Cornford
Comments on this post
After Baggaleys horrific mindgames against Gavin Evans in the semi finals – he was down untill he started his routine – being escorted to the toilet, then having several minutes with his brother in the corner peeling his banana for him slowing the game down with minutes between points etc, he then went onto to do this in the final against Pitchford who clearly had the better of him. The crown even heckled his mindgames and gamesmanship at one point. This should not have allowed to happen, the umpires should have stopped him from doing this.
posted 10.03.10 by jeff andrews
To be honest, in my opinion and many others that were watching the final, I think that the behaviour of Andrew Baggaley was appalling and showed no evidence at all on sportsmanship throughout his matches. Although his stupid mind games got the better of his opponents, it shouldn’t of been allowed. I’m sure of it that next year Pitchford and Evans will learn from these mind games and ignore them to progress to become the champions that they are. Another thing would be one of Baggaleys supporters. The guy that was cheering him on wanted to win more than Andrew actually did!
posted 17.03.10 by Someone
What is going on with that haircut?
posted 10.05.10 by Keith
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pitchford very good – gifted player, disapointed he lost as always like the underdog and he had the game to win when he went 3-2 up. He should hopefully come through quick now with Drinkall in to the top 100 in the world and get England more established at it was when I started playing with des,cooke,prean. A long way to go but if reed, evans and ware keep improving English TT will be getting back up there.
Baggley was very strong today as well and very determined, he is still improving – great final!!
posted 08.03.10 by mark smith