Our Blog

Robert Thornton won his second Pro Tour event of 2013 with victory in the Gleanegale Hotel Players Championship in Killarney on Saturday, while fellow Scotsman John Henderson enjoyed his best performance of the year with a fine run to the quarter-finals.

World number eleven Thornton defeated Jamie Caven 6-5 in the final to clinch the £10,000 winners prize after earlier wins against Kevin McCann, Nick Fullwell, Vincent van der Voort, Alan Tabern, Mark Walsh and Dave Chisnall.

“It’s a great win for me because my form has been hit and miss recently,” admitted the world number eleven, who heads into the Edinburgh tournament as Scotland’s number one player.

“After losing in the first round of the World Grand Prix last weekend it was important to bounce back and I couldn’t be happier with this result.

“I beat some great players and it gives me a lot of confidence ahead of The Masters, which I am really looking forward to.”

40-year-old Henderson saw off higher-ranked opponents in Mark Webster, Ian White and Justin Pipe to reach a quarter-final for the first time since the same event last year.

‘The Highlander’ was denied further progression by Darren Webster in the last eight.

Sunday’s event saw Andover’s Arron Monk claim impressive wins against Jyhan Artut and Brendan Dolan before losing out in the last 16, with Thornton being denied a weekend double with defeat at the same stage.

By Chris Murphy