Fancy playing Ricky Walden in the forthcoming Exhibition on 21st January: Qualifying competition 7th January, tickets available £10 inc. food & free prize draw. See delegate for details.
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UK League Snooker Tournament
The inaugural UK League Snooker Tournament took place over the weekend 28th/29th November 2009, the venue Riley’s, Belle Vue, Manchester. Riley’s kindly sponsoring the event.
The tournament was open to 5 person league teams from all over the UK. The format 5 single frames, 1 point per frame won and 1 extra for winning the match.
13 teams entered and were divided into two qualifying groups.
Group A
The West Midlands team, many people's favourites beforehand, started well on the first day, dropping just one frame, Geoff Williams posting the day's top break of 110. However, on the second day a 4-1 win over Leamington at the start of the day, was followed by a defeat of 4-1 by Manchester District, who had earlier been beaten by Leamington in their opening match of the tournament.
A great second day by performance by Manchester saw them progress to the semi finals alongside the West Midlands team, including a superb 5-0 win over Garston which clinched a semi final spot by 1 point from Ormskirk, who were in turn defeated 3-2 by West Midlands in their last match.
Group B
This proved to be a very tight group, with highlights including Richard Beckham's (Cleveland) 110 break for against Warrington. Mike Wasley (Gloucester) was the star of the group, winning all his frames for Gloucester, including breaks of 104, 93, 82 and 48, and conceding just 31 points in the whole tournament, to take the most wins prize. Gloucester lost their opening match 3-2 to Cleveland but they won all their remaining matches 3-2 to progress to a semi final against Manchester District.
Vinny Calabrese (Cambridge) posted the tournament's highest break, a superb 132 on day 2 against Warrington, but his Cambridge side did not make the semi finals. That place went to Cleveland who's 4-1 win over Manchester Snooker league was enough to give them a semi final berth against West Midlands, this despite losing their last match 3-2 to Gloucester, who's win clinched the group.
Semi-Finals & Final
With the standard of play on show very high, the semi finals promised a lot. The first semi final saw the surprise package Manchester District taking on Group B winners Gloucester. A closely fought match saw Manchester book their place in the final with a 3-2 win. The second semi final was just as close. West Midlands also winning by a 3-2 margin.
The final then was between local boys Manchester District, and tournament favourites West Midlands. Manchester were confident, having beaten their opponents 4-1 earlier in the day at the group stage. The match proved close and tense, with West Midlands exacting revenge, and winning the title of UK League Snooker Champions 2009 with a 3-2 victory.
Teams entered this year:
Cleveland Snooker league
Cambridge Snooker League
West Midlands Snooker league
Manchester District Snooker league
Manchester Snooker League
Urmston Snooker League
Hazel Grove Snooker league
Gloucester Snooker League
Reading Snooker League
Ormskirk Snooker league
Garston Snooker league
Leamington Snooker league
Warrington Snooker league
Tournament Breaks:
Vinny Calabrese (Cambridge) 132
Richard Beckham (Cleveland) 110
Geoff Williams (West Midlands) 110
Mike Wasley (Gloucester) 104
Jamie McArdle (Manchester) 98
Dean Sheridan (Manchester Dist) 91
Anthony Parsons (Cleveland) 86
Gareth Hibbott (Ormskirk) 81
James Leadbetter (Urmston) 77
Mark Carrington (Manchester) 75
Lenny Degriffa (Manchester Dist) 73
If you`re interested in taking part in next years event contact Rob Spencer (Manchester Snooker league) at rob147@gmail.com or Richard Ormiston at Richard@leaguesnooker.co.uk