Dutch Snooker Event

LEE BEATS FORD IN HOLLAND

England's Andy Lee beat Leicester colleague Tom Ford 6-5 in the inaugural Bruhamij Ericks Open, Veenendaalse, Holland.

The events No 5 seed opened the final with a 97, Ford countered with 81 nothing else of note happened until from 3-3, Lee with a run of 64 followed by a 67 in next frame led 5-3, Ford 2nd seed missing on 54 in the 8th frame.

Ford fought back brilliantly to force the decider with a 106 and a 74 clearance after Lee ran out of position on a break of 53 in the 9th frame.

In the quarter finals Lee trounced European Champion Kevin Van Hove 4-0 with breaks of 84 and 104 missing the 14th red on a maximum Ford defeated Germany’s Patrick Einsle 4-1.

Lee battered the home country’s Gerit bil de Leji 5-0 in the last four with runs of 54,52,74,67,70 and 101 conceding just 16 points stating “ that’s one of the best performances if not the best of my snooker career “

Ford in a more sedate fashion beat co Main Tour’s Dave Roe 5-2 with breaks of 84 twice and 55.

Former Leicester resident Stefan Maxrocis failed to progress from the group stages the previous day.

Ford made the highest break of the event a 137 in the round robins.