Irishman Josh Boileau unbelievable run came to an end this morning when he was beaten in the final of the 2014 IBSF Under 21 Snooker Championships in Al Fujairah, UAE. In the final Josh played Iran’s Hossein Vafea who just the day before made the first ever 147 break in IBSF World U-21 history of the event. The final was a great match with both players playing attacking snooker but the Iranian player was on fire to win 8 frames to 3.
2014 has been an outstanding season from the Irish 19 year old who also reached the final of the EBSA European U-21 Championship back in March but the performance in this World IBSF U-21 Championship was a higher level which included a string of matches against top class opponents in the knock stages.
Josh qualified from his group with ease but it was in the knock outs that he started to perform to his best. In the last 64 he beat Abdullah Al-Faylee from Syria 4-1. Last 32 he beat Dhvaj Haria from India 5-1. Last 16 he beat Muhammad Majid Ali from Pakistan 5-1. In the Q-Finals he beat Lee Mein from Scotland 6-0 and in the Semi Final he beat 2013 IBSF Mens runner up Zhao Xintong from China 7 frames to 6 in a fantastic match that went to the final pink.
RIBSA had sent five Under 21 players to the Championship this year. The team consisted of Stephen Bateman, Daniel O Regan, Daniel Dempsey, David Cassidy and Josh Boileau.
All players qualified from their groups and as National Coach I am delighted with the performance of all the players as the standard is getting higher each season.
Stephen Bateman reached the last 64 losing to Nathawud Hompirom from Thailand 4-1. Daniel Dempsey reached last 64 losing to Lee Mein from Scotland 4-2. Daniel O Regan reached the last 64 losing to Yun Fung Tam from Hong Kong 4-2 and David Cassidy reached the last 32 when he beat Amin Sanjaei from Iran 4-1but lost to Mateusz Baranowski from Poland 5 frames to 4.
Well done to Josh and everyone involved within RIBSA and Irish Snooker is so proud of what you achieved at the World Under 21 Snooker Championships this year. Also well done to the other players and Ger Murray who was refereeing in the Championship.
