Jopson claims BCiB QLD Open title

Pine Rivers’ Paul Jopson has scored his second grand prix title of the year after accounting for world number nine Anthony Kiepe in today’s men’s singles final at the BCiB Queensland Open.

Fresh off his victory alongside young guns Ben Twist and Kurt Brown in February’s Australian Open, Jopson defied his underdog tag as he registered a 14-1, 7-8, 4-0 win.

However, there is some solace for the Helensvale ace, with his appearance in today’s final likely to send him to the top of the national rankings, but that would count for little right now.

Playing in his first major tournament since contesting the World Cup final in April, Kiepe accounted for a host of big names en route to the final, but was unable to secure one more win.

During a whirlwind opening set, Jopson claimed 11 straight shots to open the match before Kiepe finally hit the board with a single on the sixth end.

But when Jopson immediately countered, picking up another triple, the first set was gone.

“I knew I had to be at my best,” Jopson said.

“I was just hoping that they would come out of the hand the way they had been and I knew I was going to be in for a tussle and at the end of the day I out drew him which is amazing because he is an awesome draw bowler.

“I don’t know, maybe the sets style of play suits me.”

In the second set, Kiepe finally found his range and started to apply the pressure and when the reigning Australian and Asia Pacific indoor champion forced a tie-breaker, the momentum appeared to be his.

But Jopson weathered the storm and came out fighting, landing a near toucher to secure a single on the opening end of the tie-break and when he drew two more on the second end the championship was all but over.

While Kiepe tried desperately to secure a number, it wasn’t to be as Jopson secured the win of his career.

Click here for end by end scoring of the men’s singles final at the BCiB Queensland Open.

Caption: Pine Rivers’ Paul Jopson has scored his second grand prix title of the year after accounting for world number nine Anthony Kiepe in today’s men’s singles final.