Snooker World Games 2013: British Duo Experience Failure

The 2013 iteration of the World Games will go down as a disappointment for British duo Joe Perry and Nigel Bond after both exited the tournament prior to the semi-finals. 

The quadrennial tournament, taking place in Colombia, kicked off with an expression of pride from Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

There was certainly plenty of reason for pre-tournament pleasure, with Perry the favourite to triumph at the Unidad Deportiva Alberto Galindo, while Bond arrived as defending champion.

However, at the midway stage of the tournament both Perry and Bond find themselves consigned to the role of spectators, following losses to Aditya Mehta and Liang Wenbo respectively.

Perry in particular will feel reason for disappointment. Currently ranked No. 19 in the world, he arrived in Cali as a man in form after winning the Yixing Open, beating Mark Selby 4-1 in the final.

His conqueror in Colombia, Aditya Mehta, is 11 years his junior and 55 places beneath him in the world rankings, having never been beyond the final 16 at a ranking event.

Bond, meanwhile, has over 100 century breaks to his name in a distinguished career that once took him to No. 5 in the world.

Currently No. 44 in the world, the Brit lost out to the higher ranked Wenbo (No. 35) but, as reigning champion, would not have expected to be whitewashed 3-0.

Nevertheless, both Perry and Bond have played their part in an event that has proved extremely popular with supporters this week. The World Games are currently recognised by the International Olympics Committee, but not yet part of the program of the Olympic Games.