Jamie copes with the pressure
Jamie Cope held his nerve under intense pressure to earn a showdown with world champion Graeme Dott in tomorrow’s China Open final.
The 21-year-old from Stoke looked to be heading home after Barry Hawkins edged within one frame of victory at the Beijing University Gymnasium.
But world number 16 Hawkins squandered numerous chances and Cope dug deep to secure his passage to a second ranking event final of the season with a 6-5 win.
“I was ready to pack my bags and go home, but luckily I got a chance and took it,” said the world number 47. It was a dull match for me, I just never got going for some reason. I just knew the match was going to go the wire, but I really thought I’d blown my chance.
“It’s not one of the best matches I’ve played but I’m definitely excited about the final and playing Graeme Dott. I just hope I turn up and produce my best form because I let myself down in the Grand Prix final against Neil Robertson. I didn’t have enough belief in myself.”
A scrappy first session was shared 2-2 with neither player able to compile a break over 50.
The second session was not much better, although Cope knocked in a composed 51 break in the first frame after the resumption for a 3-2 lead.
Back came Hawkins with a 67 break to square matters, before Cope edged ahead again thanks to a break of 56.
But the best-of-11 frame match then swung in Hawkins’ favour. He won the next frame 68-41 before going further in front with a 61 break.
Hawkins, runner-up at the invitational Kilkenny Irish Masters last month, edged closer to victory with a superb 63, but missed the chance to kill off his opponent, who snatched the 10th frame to make it 5-5.
And to rub salt into the wound, Cope won the decider on the black after a three-hour battle.
“I can’t believe I’ve lost, I’m absolutely devastated,” admitted Dartford’s Hawkins.
“I had enough chances to win it, but I thought the final black was going in and it just stopped in the jaws of the pocket.
“I’m speechless to be honest. I felt really good at the end of the match, but I took my eyes off the brown ball in the 10th frame and he took his chances to level the match.
“The positive thing for me is that my confidence is back and I’ve got to a ranking event semi-final, but I’ve got to cut out the silly mistakes.”
Earlier in the day, Dott beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 to qualify for his first final since winning the world title.
“I played really well. It wasn’t the best I’ve played this week, but I’ve played the same attacking game and that’s worked for me,” said Dott.
“To beat Ronnie O’Sullivan, the best in the game, 6-2 is a confidence boost for me. The form I’m showing here is better than when I won the World Championship last season.”
O‘Sullivan said: “Graeme played very well. He’s the world champion and played much better than me. I wasn’t good enough today – it’s as simple as that.
“It’s a relief the match is over, I feel good now. I’ve more important things to look forward to when I get home, although I’m not going to be thinking about the World Championship.
“I baffle myself sometimes with the way I play, but the Chinese fans have been good all week and I’m looking forward to coming back here next year.”
