The quarter finals of the 2022 Major Singles Championship have started with 3 of the 4 games completed. Unfortunately COVID prevented the fourth game from being played! Two of the three games ended with surprise results while the third saw a former Champion made to work hard to make the semi-finals.
Everyone’s favourite super senior player did it again! The remarkable Lou Kozlik, all of 89 years old, continued his great form when he dispatched one of the real fancies in this event – Noel Downie! The game was very close for the first half of play with the scores locked at 8 all after 11 ends. Kozlik then powered away from his opponent. He won the next 7 ends and picked up 14 shots to create a lead of 22 – 8. Downie, as he always does, fought back and reduced the margin to 22 – 17 after 21 ends. Kozlik then won the next two ends to win the game 25 – 17.
Bruce Magilton, the winner of this year’s Lightning Singles, once again showed his ever improving skills when he outplayed the very experienced Stuart Graham. While most of the ends where closely fought, Magiltion won 18 of the 24 ends played. On 13 of these ends the margin was by just one shot!! Nevertheless, Magilton was able to lead throughout and won 25 – 10.
In the third game played, Joel Hilliard had to be at his very best to get over the top of Doug Williams. The momentum shifted from one player to the other and on four occasions the scores were level. Hilliard led earlier but by the 10th end Williams had levelled the scores at 10 all. Williams then managed to grab the lead but by the 20th end the scores were again locked up at 17 all. Hilliard then made the crucial break. He picked up 3 shots on each of the next two ends to move in sight of victory at 23 – 17. The next three ends were very close with Hilliard winning two of them by a shot to win the game 25 – 18.
The postponed match will be played during the work so the make of the semi-finals will be finalised!
Joel Hilliard 2022 Major Singles semi-finalist.
