Brighton publican Terry Race is the new world bar billiards champion.

Race, 48, who runs the Alb-ion Inn, Albion Hill, beat Nigel Ryall, of the Trinity Arms, Jersey, in the final at the Hotel de Normandie in St Saviour, Jersey.

Race, a losing finalist twice before in 1990 and 1999, had to come back from almost 16,000 points down in his semi-final against Guernsey's Trevor Gal-lienne and 11,400 down in the quarter-finals against Dennis Helleur, of Jersey.

He played the table out on both occasions to beat Galli-enne by 15,870 points to 15,840 and Helleur by 13,190 points to 11,790.

In the final, he triumphed over Ryall by 12,070 points to 6,580.

The competition was played over two days in the Channel Islands, and more than 250 players took part.

The event also incorporates the British Isles Open Champi-onship, and Race said: "I have been runner-up twice before, so it was nice to win."

Another Brighton player, Jim Millward, was beaten by Race at the last-16 stage, by 14,170 points to 6,640.

Millward, who was the cham-pion last year, pocketed the highest mainland break prize with a score of 12,450.

Sue Mariner, from Sussex, won the plate competition.

She defeated Jersey's James Jeanne by 9,500 points to 8,900 in the final to make it a great tournament for Sussex.