Casey Bows Out in World Amateurs

Greg Casey produced a spirited fight back but ultimately fell short in his IBSF World Championship quarter-final with Lukas Kleckers today in Egypt.

The Cork cueist was the last remaining Irishman left in the Men’s draw having battled his way through with four knockout phase wins – including an impressive 5-3 victory over Thailand’s Issara Kachaiwong in the last 32.

Casey probably would have fancied his chances against 19 year-old Kleckers but got off to a perilously slow start in his encounter with the German.

Trailing 4-0 and 5-1 in a race to six was always going to be a difficult situation to retrieve but the 25 year-old gave it his best effort, reeling off three frames in a row to get back to within one.

Both players seemed to have many chances in a tight tenth frame which could have gone either way but Casey was ultimately unable to force a decider as Kleckers cleared from the final red to eventually cross the winning post.

A shame for Casey then but a valiant effort from a competitor who has been a regular fixture in the Irish team at these international amateur events in recent years.

Earlier in the week, Rodney Goggins let go a 4-3 lead to disappointingly lost 5-4 in his last 32 clash with Lin Tang Ho, while David Cassidy failed in his first match beyond the group phase.

Irish national champion Brendan O’Donoghue, who would have been expected to challenge for glory in Hurghada, decided against travelling for the tournament.

Young Kleckers moves into the last four, where he’ll face former champion Pankaj Advani for a place in the final.

It would be great for German snooker, where the fans are so enthusiastic and crying out for a star of their own to support, if Kleckers could go on and win the tournament – thus gaining a pro ticket onto the Main Tour.

Yet, one suspects the champion will come from either Advani or China’s Zhao Xintong, who faces Ben Jones in the other semi-final clash.

The tournament concludes on Saturday.