'Cue-ing' up to face world's best

Pictured: Josh hands, left and Robbie Chilcott preparing for the Queensland Open at Redcliffe.

Josh Hands and Robbie Chilcott will line-up with one of the world’s greatest billiards players in Redcliffe tomorrow for the biggest  tournament this state has hosted.

Five-time world champion Peter Gilchrist has flown in for the Queensland Open Billiards Championship at Redcliffe Snooker Club from Friday to Sunday (November 22-24).

Gilchrist lives in Singapore, has the world record billiards break of 1346 points, has dominated world rankings since 2016 and is chasing vital world ranking points on the Irene St tables.

He will face some of Australia’s top players, as well as Queensland champions Robbie Chilcott, from Redcliffe and North Lakes’ Josh Hands, the under 21 title holder.

Chilcott and Hands are hoping to make the latter stages of the event on Sunday but know their chances of lifting the trophy are slim.

“We definitely won’t be winning,” said Chilcott, who played in Victoria before moving to Redcliffe where he has been practicing three-four hours a day, four-five days a week.

“Peter is simply that good. He’s head and shoulders above everyone else and was world number one until just recently.

“But there are some good quality local players in this - four or five club members from here, other players from NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

“For Josh and me … we just want to play the best we can. If that takes us to the quarters or semi-finals, it would be good. The grand final would be great.”

Hands is just 19 but has already travelled the world playing snooker and billiards. In fact, he played world billiards at the age of 14.

“I expect to get out of the group,” he said, “quarter-finals would be the goal … anything above that would be a bonus.

“I’m happy with my game at the moment. Playing pretty well and feeling quite confident. I’ve prepared the best I can, now it’ll be down to what happens on the day.

“You just play the table and block out who you are up against. It’s all about who has most points, so just score as high as you can when at the table.”

Hands is training two-three hours a day at home and Redcliffe Snooker Club, where the tables have been resurfaced and some cushions replaced ahead of the tournament.

Play starts at 9.30am on Friday and 9am Saturday and Sunday at Redcliffe Snooker Club, 2A Irene St.

The Round Robin Group stage has eight pools, each with four players, who have three in 75-minute games on Friday and Saturday.

Top two in each progress to the last 16 on Saturday with 90-minute games at 4pm and 5.45pm.

On Sunday the quarter-finals are from 9am and semi-finals from 11.45am - all games over 120 minutes. The Queensland Open Championship final is from 2.45pm for 180 minutes.