Click for full scores over at Global Snooker
He’s done it, Malta’s Tony Drago is back on the main tour following a dramatic victory tonight in the European Play-Off against Roy Stolk. Click below for more…
Tony Drago 5-4 Roy Stolk
21-61, 1-85(57), 75(75)-4, 80(80)-1, 61-35, 61-35, 4-84, 25-87(62), 70-66, 67(53)-31
Barring a tough last 16 clash against Maurice Le Duc which saw Tony come back from 2-0 down to take a 3-2 win, Drago was largely untroubled on his way to the final where he came up against Dutchman Roy Stolk. As a result it was something of a surprise when Stolk moved into a 2-0 lead early on and then having seen Drago come back at him to lead 3-2, he was able to regroup and move just one away from victory at 4-3.
The real drama was still to come however as having left Tony needing a snooker, it looked like Roy had done enough to regain his main tour spot. Drago though was not about to give in and having got that snooker, he knocked in pink and black to force a decider.
Having performed such an escape it was surely written for Drago to get back onto the main tour and taking the next to clinch a 5-4 victory, this is exactly what he did.
While Roy will surely be gutted, I imagine that a lot of snooker fans will be delighted to see Tony Drago back on the professional circuit once again. Always popular for his emotions on and off the table as well as his incredibly quick play, hopefully he will be able to compete to a high standard and follow the example of Jimmy White who he has been practising with in recent weeks. It will not be easy with the start points he will begin the season with, but on this evidence he still has the talent and the motivation to enjoy some success.
Read what Tony has to say on the victory over at Snooker Scene Blog here.
Incidentally, Drago’s victory leaves just six further tour places up for grabs, one more to be confirmed this weekend following the conclusion of the main European Championship event.
Loading tweets...
3 comments
1 ping
ddrIII
June 4, 2009 at 11:55 am (UTC 0)
What an exciting news! Congratulation to Dargo.
Now both Wattana and Drago back on the MT, really turn the clocks around.
Sammy
June 4, 2009 at 12:12 pm (UTC 0)
Yipee!!!
What great news!
Lets hope he can get to a T.V stage!
Brian Caruana
June 16, 2009 at 2:54 pm (UTC 0)
congratulations to the maltese no.1 pride
well done again my friend tony
2009 in Review: Part Two « Pro Snooker Blog
December 25, 2009 at 11:48 pm (UTC 0)
[...] final main tour places were decided. A popular returnee was Tony Drago who defeated Roy Stolk to win the European Play-Off before David Hogan won the main event to join him among the [...]