Good morning from Surbiton.
Glorious day, pretty warm already. Could be a scorcher, but maybe light cloud will bubble up again.

Who on earth is favourite for this event?

Reg Bamford has won 11 Open Singles.
Mark Avery won in 1987.
Death and Suter are yet to play in an Open Singles final. Both reached the semis last year.

I am currently in the pavilion, but the semis are on lawns 4 and 5 so may have to relocate.
There's talk of Eugene videoing with audio commentary, I may be involved with that.

I've seen all 4 players bar James Death. Reg is in his blazer.

The semis are due to start at 10am.

Here comes my usual minimal research:
Not a great deal of history for these pairings.
Death and Avery have played 21 ranked games, but only one in the last six years. Death leads 12-9.
Bamford and Suter have played 2 games, one in 2003 and one in this tournament. Bamford won both.

What tactics can we expect?
Will Bamford be going for sextuples? Only one completed in his 10 games at this tournament.
What about TPOs? I would be surprised if Bamford or Avery went for them, not their favoured tactic despite the superAdvanced rules making TPOing more attractive.
Suter is also an infrequent TPOer, though did have one in the first round here, winning the game +10tpo v Joel Taylor.
Death will attempt the TPO given half a chance.

I think when superAdvanced was mooted it was expected that players in their first break would make 4,5 or 6 hoops, have a spread, then continue with the same ball to 4-back.
But almost everyone seems to be making 9 hoops (or possibly 8 if they fear a tpo and fancy a quad). Then contact leave. This is if you aren't trying a sextuple!

The semi-finals are best-of-3, unsurprisingly.
(One game of the Doubles Final was played last night. You can read all about it!)

Death has arrived.

Please email me with any questions or to point out my egregious errors.
Note that I am not on Nottingham list,so can't pick up messages from there.

Note that all distances in my commentary are approximate - I can hardly rush onto the lawn with a tape measure if someone has a longish hoop.
Also I use imperial: y = yards, ' = feet, " = inches.
Measurements from corners are from the corner spot, so 6y N of 4th corner is the same as E bdry level with 4.

OK relocating to Eugene's commentary centre now.
See you in a couple of minutes!

Here I am by the South boundary of lawn 4. No power yet but Eugene assures me he just has to flick a switch.
Starting on lawn 5:

James Death v Mark Avery

T1 Avery Red to E bdry somewhere. ~9y N of 4th corner
T2 Death Blue to just S of 2nd corner.
T3 Avery Yellow misses Red from A-baulk.

T4 Death Black makes double from B-baulk, misses to 3y S of Red.

Eugene is almost ready.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNYCwbbHIK4aOxADXCy7eg/live

Maybe lawn 4 is waiting till the livestreaming is operational!

Avery Yellow taps Red, rushes Black near Blue, then Blue to 4yS of 1.
Various parts of the lawns have been measured at between 13.5 and 15 plummers.
Avery makes 1 and rushes Blue near 4th corner.

Bamford and Suter have started practising. To be fair, they were waiting for hoopsetter to finish. Also they are not involved in the Doubles Final, so no hurry for them.

Avery is picking up break nicely.

Eugene is now broadcasting, with Sam Murray starting the audio commentary.

Reg testing the boundaries.

Avery blobs 3 from nowhere.

T6 Death Black has short roquet on Blue, can croquet Blue to 2 getting rush on Yellow from jaws of 3 to S bdry. Red is 2y SE of 4.
Black has 4 or 5' rush on Red. Rushes to 3y SSE of 1. 4 or 5' hoop...

Death fails 1.

T7 Avery Red misses 4-yarder at Blue. Maybe couldn't see all of it, but even so...

T8 Death Black at Blue, missing to N bdry.

T9 Avery Red at Yellow (23y). Misses.

T10 Death Black hits Blue (6y), rushing it near 4. Blue is croqueted to 2, Yellow is rushed to Red.
Blue rushes Red, but overcuts, Red finishing 2y or more W of 5. Roll approach. 4' hoop...

T10 Death Black fails 1.

Still not started on lawn 4.

T11 Avery Red must be wired from Black, joins up with Yellow in middle of E bdry.

Reg Bamford v Mark Suter

Reg wins toss, goes in.
T1 Bamford Black 8y N of 4th corner
T2 Suter Red just S of 2nd corner.
T3 Bamford Blue at Black from A-baulk.

T12 Death Black hits Yellow (long shot, target?)

T12 Death Black has 2' hoop 1. Makes it (ironic fist-pump), misses 5y return roquet.
T13 Avery Red joins up with Yellow.

T3 Bamford Blue hits Black, take-off to Red hits hoop 2. Crowd thinks Blue may have been going off.
Blue hits Red (7y). Red is rolled to a few y N of peg-high, a yard or 2 in from W bdry.

T14 Death Black hits Blue(8y), croquets it to a few yards beyond 3 going to Red / Yellow. Fair rush to 2. Makes hoop, should be away.

T3 Bamford still contemplating his last stroke. Blue is 2y E of peg. Decides to join up with Red rather than Black, for fear of leaving target with Black.

T4 Suter Yellow is taking his shortest shot, at Black from A-baulk. Hits!

T4 Suter opts for take-off rather than scary (and unnecessary) big roll. Take-off pulls up 4' short of bdry.

T14 Death has reached 1-back, and will be conceding contact.

T4 Suter's rush to 1 sails 5y past hoop. Good approach to 18". Makes it, should have first break.

T14 Death has left Blue in or near 2nd corner.

T14 Death blobs 3-back.

T15 Avery can trivially pick up 3-ball break for Yellow, which is for hoop 4.

The lawns were mown this morning. Didn't take too long as only a spoonful of dust was removed.

T15 Avery Yellow does pick up break, inevitably peeling Black to 4-back as he does so.

T4 Suter has reached 5.

T15 Avery has reached 1-back, picking up Blue to get all 4 balls.

T4 Suter grovels thru 6, calls for a referee, but copes.

Now Avery needs a referee. He has reached 3-back, but I think an old hoop-hole has come into play, so that's being levelled.
In fact it's the opponent doing the gardening. All very amiable.

T4 Suter Yellow has left Red near 2nd corner.

T15 Avery Yellow setting up contact leave, very nearly croquets Red off lawn. Red is a foot or two N of 4th corner. Blue is 8y N of 1st corner.
Big croquet stroke to finish sends Black off near middle of E bdry, Yellow off in 2nd corner.

Lawn 5 clips: Death Blue 1, Black 4-back; Avery Red 1, Yellow 4-back.

T16 Death lifts Blue to Black, rolls them to near 3rd corner, has leave. Looks like 5' rush for Blue to end of A-baulk, but I'm guessing a bit.

T4 Suter has made 9 hoops. Red near 2nd corner, Yellow in 3rd corner, Black in 4th corner, Blue 7y N of Black.

T17 Avery Yellow misses Blue (25y)

Death wanders past with a jug of water. How many I-Spy points for that?

Haven't seen any odds for these matches. How about a spread bet on the number of Marks in the final?

T5 Reg lifts Black to Yellow, takes off to Blue. Leaves rush to 1 in 4th corner.

T18 Death fails hoop 1. Looks to be in front. No shot less than 20y for Avery.

"What's Suter thinking about?" asks an expert. "Just hit and finish!"

T6 Suter ignores my expert and plays Yellow. Hits Black (33y)

T19 Avery Yellow misses Red.

Actually my expert asked "What's Mark thinking about?" , and i thought he meant Avery!

T20 Death Blue runs 1, takes off to Red / Yellow in 4th corner, goes off lawn by inches.

A slight glitch with the video but should be back now. The equipment may be overheating though we are under a parasol.

T21 Avery Red take-off approach to 1 from 3y NE of hoop. Makes it for the break.

T6 Suter has left Blue 5y SSW of 1, Black 5' NNW of 4th corner, Red and Yellow on N bdry behind 2 (Red to the West).

T7 Bamford Blue misses Black (22y).

T21 Avery Red blobs 3. It's off Yellow, so Death needs a hit-in.

T22 Death Blue hits Yellow (10y). croquets Yellow to 2, rush-peels Red to end of A-baulk. Black is 4y N of 4th corner, Blue ignores it for now, approaches 1, short, retires to near Black.

T23 Avery Red hits Yellow (16y).

T8 Suter Red is picking up break. might be able to set up standard TP but some work yet.

T23 Avery Red fails to get in front of 4, no longer has the innings.

T24 Death joins up
T25 Avery corners.

T8 Suter Red roqueted Yellow in running 2, imperilling standard TP.
Suter blobs 3.

T26 Death has leave near 1st corner.
T27 Avery corners. Red is in 3rd corner, Yellow just W of 4th.

T9 Bamford Blue taps Yellow, croquets it to 2, rush peels Red to a few yards from Black, take-off is overhit, can only cut it to 6y SSW of hoop 1.

T28 Death Blue makes 1, rushes Black to 4th corner, rushes Yellow halfway up E bdry, rolls to Red, rolls to 2, gets it!

T9 Bamford takes off (!) to 1, over hit, back to partner.

Suter is again playing the ball he's "forced" to, not the ball he wants to.
T10 Suter Yellow hits Red (25y).

T28 Death approaches 3 from N bdry, now has break.

Will Death be going for delayed TP?

Suter constructing his leave.

T11 Bamford attempting 24-yarder, missing. "Bit twisted" my expert thinks.

Will Suter Red be picking off his 7-yarder at Black? Going for it...

T12 Suter Red hits Black (7y). "A risk in name only" opines my expert, quoting Wylie.

Death has reached 2-back. No peel attempt, but partner is at 4-back. Death would have had a straight triple peel yetserday, but missed a 3-yard peg-out.

Suter has break - will he go for delayed TP?

Death has peeled 4-back straight, just overhits the rush to penult. Attempts angled peel but it bounces out.

Suter rejects the idea of a TP.

Lawn 5 clips: Death Black penult, Blue peg; Avery Red 4, Yellow 4-back.
T29 Avery misses 14-yarder.

T30 Death fails rover.

Avery Red has 11-yarder...

T31 Avery Red misses (11y).
Death should finish.

Suter has reached 2-back.

Death wins game 1 +14

Suter Red has Yellow at 4-back, but he's not the sort for a speculative STP.

Lawn 5 has gone for a drink.

Death v Suter game 2

T1 Avery Yellow 8y N of 4th corner.
T2 Death Black just S of 2nd corner.
T3 Avery Red hits Yellow from A-baulk.

T3 Avery takes off to Black, goes off lawn.
T4 Death Blue has 13y double. hits both but Black first I think.

Oops commentator error. This is of course...

Death v Avery game 2

Suter has made rover. He is 4-back and peg v 1 and 1.

T4 Death Blue rushes Red into hoop 2. Goes to Yellow, takes off to 1. Retires to 1st corner. (Why not join up?)
T5 Avery joins up.
T6 Death Black hits 30-yarder.

Suter has almost finished his turn. Diagonal spread.

T6 Death rolling up to 1 from 1st corner. 5' hoop. Runs it to N bdry, where Red is waiting.

T13 Bamford lifts ball by peg to B-baulk. Misses Yellow (21y).
Blue is only a yard or two in from W bdry, for some reason.

T6 Death has played some big shots to pick up break.

T14 Suter Yellow rushes Red to W bdry, then rushes Blue to nr Black nr 4th corner. Little 4' take-off required. Has rush to4-back.

Pretty good rush from Suter. Approaching from 3y. (Red is 4y W of penult.)
Runs 4-back to boundary.

T6 Death has made 1-back. Blue is left 3y E of 2nd corner.

T14 Suter has made penult. Rover pioneer is 7y NW of hoop.

T6 Death has made 9 hoops. Red and yellow left nr 4th corner, Black in 3rd corner.

Mark Suter wins game 1 +26

T7 Avery lifts Red to Blue, thickly takes off to Black, rolls Black to 4y NW of 5, hits Yellow, takes off to 1, short, back to mother.

Lawn 4 is lunching.

T8 Death Black corners.
T9 Avery fails to approach 1, taps in front.
T10 Death Blue hits Yellow (22y). Chance to win the match this turn...

T10 Death big roll after 1 ends up in front of hoop 2. That saves a bit of time!

T10 Death Blue now rolling Black out of 3rd corner, he hopes into peeling posi at 4-back. Black drifts 3y or so S of 3.

T10 Death Blue tries long peel of Black after 3, but it bounces off to the NW.

If Death is going for the delayed TP he'd have wanted Red further North than it is.
He'd also have wanted a rush after hoop 5, but didn't get it.

Maybe Death is thinking of trying the peel before 1-back.

Death has abandoned thoughts of the TP. Though he may have another cheeky STP attempt.

Death pauses for a drink of water. Pretty sweaty out there, though it has clouded over.

Loud noise as Death runs 2-back, but he only runs it by 2y, so must have been an angled clout.

T10 Death Blue fails to rush Black in front of 4-back, so it'll just be 12 hoops and a leave.

T10 Death Blue has reached the peg, making diagonal spread.

Clips: Death Blue peg, Black 4-back; Avery 1 & 1

T11 Avery lifts Red (from near W bdry), taking "short" shot from A-baulk, though it's close to the maximum 19y. Misses.

T12 Death Black taps Red, croquets it in-lawn, rushes Blue to S of Yellow, fair rush, should finish.

We lost power for a bit a few minutes ago, so not sure if we're livestreaming.

Death wins game 2 +26

Death is in the Open Singles final for the first time.

We are now waiting for the other semi-final. Also the Doubles final can recommence. Lawn 2 seems to be free.

The Mangler is fretting about which lawn to use for the Doubles Final.
It started on lawn 2 yesterday, but lawns 3 and or 5 are nicer, ie more intersting. Lawn 2 is practically green compared to the other lawns.
The Singles Final will be on lawn 3 tomorrow.

Bamford v Suter game 2

T1 Bamford Red 9y N of 4th corner.
T2 Suter Black 1' N of 4th corner.

Bamford is thinking, looking at what sort of target he leaves if Yellow ends up in 4th corner.
T3 Bamford Yellow to B-baulk. Stalking, kicks his oppo's rucksack. Certainly spending more time than Avery did over his last shot.
Yellow hits Red.

T3 Bamford Yellow takes off to Black. Croquets Black between 1 and 2 (~10y WNW of peg). Leaves rush for Red.

T4 Suter Blue from A-baulk. (16y). He's hit everything so far....

T4 Suter Blue misses Red.

Didn't look very close.
T5 Bamford Red taps Blue, croquets it in-lawn, rushes Yellow 3y W of Black, good croquet stroke, good rush, makes his first hoop of the match.

The crowd wonders how many hoops Bamford will make here.
One expert suggestion is 6 hoops, then lay the rush for the hoop 1 ball, then if Suter misses short shot, play with the 1-back ball.

Bamford Red has reached hoop 5. His hoop 6 pioneer is Yellow, so my expert thinks he may not be having 1-back leave.
His hoop 5 approach falls to the right, but he copes with short angled hoop.

Bamford has sent out a 1-back pioneer. He will be conceding contact.

Bamford Red has left nr 2nd corner after 1-back.

There is a 3-back pioneer. It'll be 9 hoops and a contact leave.

Bamford has short slightly angled 3-back. Blob?! Referee called to see if it's through.
Miranda Chapman on as ref. Not through!

You know where Red is. Yellow is a few feet in from 2nd corner. Blue is 4' N of Red, Black is halfway between hoop 4 and 4th corner.

T6 Suter lifts Black to Yellow. Big roll sends Yellow 4y NNE of 4, Black 4y short of Blue, but he has to hit Red, does so, peeling it thru by a few inches.
Now rushing Blue to 1, ends up 3y SSW of hoop. Approaches short, 4' hoop. Fails hoop.
Bamford has standard TP in front of him.

The doubles entertainment has been postponed so that Patel can play his Plate game against Robin Brown.

Excitement on the commentary desk as our parasol spontaneously collapses. Nelson is on hand to restore order.

T7 Bamford Yellow hits 3-yarder, makes 1 off Black, Blue is his hoop 2 pioneer, 5 or 6y S of hoop.

T7 Bamford Yellow hasn't got ideal position for the peel after 3, and it seems to have failed onto the right-hand wire.

The hoop 6 pioneer is 2y NW of hoop 6. Surely you'd rather it NE of hoop.
Bamford fails to get rush after 5.

Big roll after 5 slightly overhit Black is 3 or 4y NNW of 1-back. Red is rushed West of Blue, croqueted back halfway between 6 and 4-back.
Overruns hoop 6 to have 5y return roquet. Hits it, but abandons TP for now. Red is going to 2-back.

T7 Bamford Yellow has made 2-back and is putting Red to 4-back.

T7 Bamford Yellow makes 3-back, and puts Blue to rover when he could have put it to penult. Not interested in STP.

T7 Bamford Yellow has made 12 hoops with zero peels. Looks like a diagonal spread coming up.

Clips: Bamford Red 4-back Yellow peg; Suter 1 & 1.

It is indeed a diagonal spread.
Suter lifts Black from by the peg to A-baulk.
T8 Suter Black shooting at Red (16y)....

Suter misses.

Blue is again closer to the W bdry than one might like if one needed a decent penult pioneer. But one probably doesn't.

T9 Bamford Red taps Black, croquets it in-lawn, rushes to 3y NW of Blue. Croquets Yellow, but it's still W of the hoop 1 / 2 line.
Rush to 4-back is 3y short. 4' hoop. Runs it to N bdry

After 4-back, Bamford Red rushes Blue South. If only he had a good penult pioneer. But I dare say he'll cope.

Bamford wins game 2 +26

It's Bamford's choice, he goes in.
Suter takes Red & Yellow.

Bamford v Suter deciding game

T1 Bamford Black 8y N of 4th corner.
T2 Suter Red N of 4th corner by about 6".
Closer this time! (Compared to game 2).

T3 Bamford Blue at Black from A-baulk. Misses to the North (but only just).

T4 Suter Yellow at Red from A-baulk. (13y) Hits. Pretty much centre ball.

T4 Suter Yellow at Red from A-baulk. (13y) Hits. Pretty much centre ball.

T4 Suter Yellow croquets Red to 2, hits Blue but underhits croquet stroke. Cut rush finishes 5y E of hoop 1. 5' hoop....

T4 Suter Yellow croquets Red to 2, hits Blue but underhits croquet stroke. Cut rush finishes 5y E of hoop 1. 5' hoop....

Sorry for repeat.

Suter makes hoop 1. Has break.

Suter fails 3 from nowhere.

T5 Bamford Blue hits 6-yarder. (though not in the middle)

Sorry I lost my internet connection there.
Very kindly Alison has allowed me to connect via her iphone.

Bamford had a slightly hairy pick-up, with a couple of imperfect rushes and a couple of missable hoops.
But he is still going, and has reached hoop 5.
His partner ball (Black) is still just off A-baulk.

T5 Bamford Blue is taking off to Black after 5, looks bewildered by the line it took.
Now has big roll to load 1-back going to Yellow at hoop 6.
I was going to say he had underhit it, but in fact the lawn is so fast it's a really good shot.

Crowd discussing leave. Remember Yellow is for hoop 3, so not the standard situation.
T5 Bamford Blue has reached 2-back.

T5 Bamford Blue makes 3-back with all 4 balls in proximity.

Red is left 1y W of 4th corner, Yellow 4y N of 4th corner.
Blue is rushing Black near 2nd corner, in fact 4y E of 2nd corner.
Neither 1st nor 3rd corner is attractive with the clip position.
Blue into 1st corner. (To encourage Red to play, so that Suter is 3 & 4-back rather than 1 & 4-back - from which it is easier to finish.)

Clips: Bamford Black 1, Blue 4-back; Suter Red 1, Yellow 3.

T6 Suter lifts Red to Blue, rolling to 1.

Roll is short, 2y angled hoop, too risky, goes off 1y N of Yellow.

T7 Bamford Blue at Red (20y).. misses to the South.

There's about an inch between Blue and Red. Players checkng that balls are aligned correctly.

T8 Suter Yellow roquets Blue into Red, promoting it 2y or so.

T8 Suter Yellow rushes Red 4y beyond 3. Approach a bit short,- 3 or 4' hoop. Runs it well. Has 3-ball break, Black is still 3y E of 2nd corner.

T8 Suter Yellow has left himself another 4' hoop at 4. Runs it a considerable way off the boundary.

T8 Suter Yellow will be conceding contact.

T8 Suter Yellow has left Red near 2nd corner after 1-back.

Robin Brown has dumped Patel out of the Plate, so maybe some doubles action soon...

T8 Suter Yellow fails 2-back from a yard or so.
He has conceded contact.

Bamford eyeing up his options. Yellow is 4y W of 5 (quite a rejection). Blue is halfway between 4 and 4th corner. Red is 1y E of 2nd corner.

T9 Bamford lifts Black to Red, takes off to Blue, but the rush is only to the E bdry. Superb croquet stroke sends Blue to 2 getting rush on Yellow.
Can he set up the TP this time?

T9 Bamford Black doesn't get a rush after 1, so another chance to demonstrate his prowess at the croquet stroke. Yellow is sent to 3, but to the surprise of the crowd goes to Blue rather than Red.

T9 Bamford Black roquets Blue after 2, takes off to Red but doesn't get rush. It seems that Bamford has no interest in the triple, the break is hard enough in these conditions.

My expert is still surprised that Bamford failed to try to get position for a standard TP.
His hoop 4 pioneer is 4y SE of the hoop.

After 3, Bamford takes off from Yellow back to Blue near 2. Bit short but can rush Blue to end of A-baulk. Good croquet stroke yields rush on Red. Another hoop is run well off the boundary.

Somebody's emailed me! Hurrah!
It's Pete Trimmer.

"But, my god, just how difficult are the conditions, for Reg to be turning down tps?"

About as fast as Cheltenham last year, but flatter lawns make it fairer.

Drama at hoop 5!
Bamford has rushed his pioneer to worse than death position. (6" due North of hoop).
Takes off to severely angled position.
Bullies it through to the N bdry.
Hits 10y return roquet.

The doubles final has re-started - on lawn 5.
I guess I'll start a new thread for that.

Bamford is back under full control.

Bamford has reached 3-back, with the parity wrong for any peel.

Pete Trimmer replies
"Having not been at Chelt last year, that's a realtively non-informative reply -- but I'm guessing 14 second lawns, and perhaps hoops set by Mr Noble!?"

Pretty much right. Lawns were measured at between 13.5 and 15 plummers this morning. Lawn 3 looks the crispiest, should be good for the final tomorrow.

To borrow my expert's word, Bamford is stodging round.
Suter's Red clip is on 1, Yellow on 2-back.
Next turn Suter would like to make 2 hoops with Yellow and have a powerful leave.
Can Bamford force him to play with Red?

Another expert suggests that Suter plays Red, goes round and pegs out Black.

Bamford is 4-back and peg. Diagonal spread with Red at the peg, Yellow 1y W of line of hoops 1 and 2.

Clips: Bamford Blue 4-back, Black peg; Suter Red 1, Yellow 2-back.

I'd say Blue and Black are around 11y N of 4th corner.
Suter lifts Red to B-baulk. This is a surprise.

Suter has changed his mind, Red is coming to A-baulk.
Commentary team goes quiet as Suter is stalking about 8 yards from us.
Red at Blue (17y). Misses

Bamford Black taps Red, gets rush on Blue to 4-back.
These players just don't want a penult pioneer.
Black is smacked thru 4-back into the hedge.

My expert thinks that Bamford was defensively minded in opting to make 4-back off partner.
Bamford Black rushes Yellow to Red, Red to penult.

Back to the comparison of these lawns to Cheltenham. Surbiton's lawns have got quicker through the week, whereas Cheltenham was fast throughout.

Bamford Black has made penult, but no ball within 5 yards of rover.

T11 Bamford Blue [not Black, sorry] is going round the lawn trying to get a good rush. Black is 10y E of peg. He gets his rush.

Bamford wins game 3 +19, and the match 2-1

Tomorrow's final will be between Reg Bamford and James Death.
It will be Death's first final, and Bamford's 17th.

That's it for this commentary, please switch to other thread for my commentary on the Doubles final.

Cheers, Andrew