Maria wins valuable ranking points at Scottish Open

MARIA O’Brien should be pleased with her achievements after picking up valuable ranking points, when she competed in the 2018 Scottish Open at the Normandy Cosmopolitan Hotel, Renfrew.

This was a BDO Invitation Table Category B event for the Ladies and was open to all players who are eligible to play in the Winmau World Masters and the Lakeside World Professional Championships.

O'Brien had a tricky opener in the ladies’ singles against Scotland’s Christine Hyde but came through 3-2, before ousting Northern Ireland’s Sandra Gilmore in straight legs.

The Business Development Manager then again had to go the full distance before ending the hopes of Lancashire’s Jo Clements.

VALUABLE: Maria O'Brien earned valuable ranking points when she competed in the 2018 Scottish Open at Renfrew last weekend.

That win gave O’Brien a place in the board final where she faced Casey Gallagher.

The 21-year-old has already got six titles to her name including the Malta Open which was won at just 16-years, but she found the Plymouth thrower too good on the day and O’Brien progressed to the quarter-finals by a 4-1 margin.

She then faced the world no.1 and doubles partner Deta Hedman for a place in the semi-finals and went down 4-2 but valuable ranking points were achieved.

O’Brien and Hedman joined ranks the following day to claim the Scottish Open pairs title.

The Swedish Pairs title holders opened their account with a 3-2 victory over Christine Hyde and Sharon Leslie before winning in straight legs against Courtney McBain and Sarah Stephen and Bet Petley and Hannah McMahon.

Now into the quarter-finals, Anastasia Dobromyslova, who won the singles title the previous day was partnered with Leanne Topper but another title was denied the Russian ace, when they were edged out 3-2.

The experienced pairing of Corrine Hammond and Lorraine Winstanley, ranked 7th and second in the world respectively, were then overcome in the semi’s by a 3-1 margin before O’Brien and Hedman took the title when getting the better of Fallon Sherrock and Casey Gallagher after having been pushed the full five legs.