Category: News

Darren Kell regains Yorkshire Billiards crown in thrilling final

 

Darren Kell regains Yorkshire Billiards crown in thrilling final.

Middlesbrough’s Darren Kell defeated reigning champion Jonathan Marwood by just 5 points in yesterday’s Yorkshire Billiards final at the Northern Snooker Centre.

The day had started badly for Marwood, as he lost his first group match 203-258 to Michael Donnelly. However, he managed to fight back with two comfortable wins to top his group on points difference. He was joined in the quarter-finals by group winners Kell, Mark Hirst, Paul Roberts, Ron Bickerdike, Kyle Cunningham, Simon Snee, plus best runner-up Peter Atkinson.

In the quarters, Kell defeated Hirst 248-222, Snee beat Roberts 333-200, Bickerdike overcame Cunningham 218-163, and Marwood beat Atkinson 387-120.

The semis saw Kell victorious over Snee 243-197, while Marwood saw off Bickerdike 285-204.

The 90-minute final was nip and tuck until a 102 break from Marwood on the hour mark saw him take command with an 80-point lead.

With 18 minutes left on the clock, Marwood was still 68 in front but Kell then had a piece of good fortune, fluking a cannon when trying for an in off the red. Kell took full advantage by going on to make a break of 87 which gave him a slender lead with just minutes left. That lead was cut to just 11 with just over a minute left, and with Marwood at the table, the buzzer went with just 5 points separating the players, with the final score being 317-312.

So Kell regained the title he won in 2024, and also took the break prize with an earlier run of 111unf.

Other breaks included-Hirst 50,50, Kell 53, Roberts 55,62,60,Bickerdike 54, Cunningham 56,54,50,51,71, Marwood 97,65, 50,60,70, Chris Appleton 70,92.

Thanks to referees Steve Harrison and Bob Slee, and of course to our sponsors, the Northern Snooker Centre.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Yorkshire Billiards Championship

Yorkshire Billiards Championship 2026

There are 28 entries for this year’s Yorkshire Billiards Championship to be held at the Northern Snooker Centre on Sunday, April 12th.

Players should register by 9:45 for a 10:00 start.

Dress code applies, no trainers, jeans or collarless t-shirts please.

Please bring a set of Billiard balls if you can.

Players will be split into 7 groups of 4. Group winners and the best-performing runner-up will progress to the quarter-finals.

Group matches and QF’s will be 60 minutes duration.

Semis will be 75 minutes.

Final will be 90 minutes.

Groups are as follows.

GROUP 1
Mark Hirst
Peter Atkinson
Malcolm Collinson
Tony Brown
GROUP 2
Darren Kell
Simon Kippax
Robert Collinson
Darren Murrell
GROUP 3
Tom Middleton
Paul Roberts
Brian Barnett
Simon Coyne
GROUP 4
Bob Patterson
Paul Devitt
Ron Bickerdike
Paul Shore
GROUP 5
Kyle Cunningham
John Bedford
Carlos Ribeiro
Terry Singleton
GROUP 6
Jonathan Marwood
Michael Donnelly
Craig Fitzpatrick
Richard Reid
GROUP 7
Simon Snee
Michael Readman
Chris Jarvis
Chris Appleton

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

 

Sheffield “2” Retain Division 1 Title.

Sheffield “2” Retain Division 1 Title.

A comfortable 5-1 home victory over Castleford means Sheffield “2” have retained their Division 1 crown. Will Lemons (69) and James Dabell both gaining maximum points.
Will Lemons tops the MVP list with 13/16, and Shaun Wilkes holds the high break with 110.
All in all, not a bad season for the Sheffield side.

In Division 2 league leaders Sheffield “3” were held to a 3-3 draw away at Harrogate “2”. Nathan Hague putting Sheffield in front, Andy Harris hitting back for Harrogate.
Halifax v Leeds also finished level. Johnny Gallagher striking first for Fax before James Pears (70) levelled for Leeds.
Dave Hall heads the Division 2 MVP list (14/18), Simon Bedford holds the high break with 71.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

The Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q2 Results

The Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q2 event delivered a superb day of competition, with a total of 94 entries across the championship, the highest for several years. Qualifier 2 followed the event on 1st March and attracted a strong field of 62 players.

The standard throughout the day was exceptionally high, highlighted by 15 breaks over 50, including two centuries from defending champion Peter Lines, whose top break of 142 was the highest of the tournament. Lines progressed through the day without dropping a frame to secure his place in the final stages.

The Q2 qualifiers are Vladislav Gradinari, Jonathan Bagley, Josh Walker and Peter Lines. They join Gavin Godfree, Tommy Doherty, William Lemons and Shaun Liu from the first event. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place on 17th May.

One of the stories of the day came from a fiercely contested quadrant where David Whitby and David Boyes were involved in a gruelling match that went the distance, with Whitby edging through 3–2 on the final black. Whitby then faced Bagley in the next round, where Bagley produced a strong performance to secure a 3–0 win, despite Whitby having chances. The match concluded just before 9pm.

Our thanks go to the Northern Snooker Centre for hosting the event and providing excellent conditions throughout the day.

Results found HERE

Allen Slingsby
Tournament Director

 

Inter-League action Division 2

Inter-League action Division “2”

Sheffield “3” maintained their lead at the top of Division 2 with a 4-2 victory over 2nd placed Bradford, Dave Pagett proving the difference between the sides.

Elsewhere, Leeds kept their promotion hopes alive with a 6-0 whitewash of Harrogate “2”, Scott Clayforth, Danny Waite and Tom Purves all gaining maximum points.
In the other match, Halifax overcame Wakefield 5-1, with Dave Hall and Johnny Gallagher starring; Hall maintained his lead at the top of the MVP list at 13/16.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Leeds and Sheffield provide 1st 4 qualifiers

Leeds and Sheffield provide 1st 4 qualifiers.

Will Lemons and Shaun Liu (Sheffield) were the first two players to reach the quarter finals of this year’s Yorkshire Snooker Championship, and were followed by Leeds duo Tommy Doherty and Gavin Godfree.

Full results of Qualifier [Q1] HERE.

Q2 follows on 22nd March, and the draw can be found by clicking HERE

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q2 Draw

Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q2 Draw

The draw for the 2nd qualifying day (22nd March) of this year’s Yorkshire Snooker Championship is now live on Snookerscores.net by clicking HERE
Players in the top half of the draw (1st 16 matches) should register by 9:45 for a 10am start. The remaining players should register by 11:15 and will be allocated tables as they become available.

Players are reminded that a dress code applies. No trainers, jeans or collarless T-shirts please.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q1 Draw

Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q1 Draw

The draw for the 1st qualifying day of this year’s Yorkshire Snooker Championship is now available to view on snookerscores.net by clicking HERE

The draw for Q2 will be available tomorrow.

4 players will qualify from each day.

All players in Q1 should register by 9:45 for a 10am start.

A reminder that the normal YBSA dress code applies, so no trainers, jeans or collarless t-shirts please.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Vladislav Gradinari is U19 Champion

Vladislav Gradinari is the U19 Champion

Vladislav Gradinari won todays U19 championship without the loss of a frame to repeat his success of two years ago. Wins over Louie Scaife 2(61)-0 and Oscar Harris 2(51)-0 were followed by a semi-final victory over Daniel Boyes 2-0, Daniel having earlier had the day’s highest break of 74.

In the lower half of the draw, it was U16 runner-up Alex Slingsby who came through unscathed with 2-0 wins over Ethan Ross, Jensen Fulton and William Naylor.
Unfortunately for Alex, Vlad was too strong in the final, running out a comfortable 3-0 winner to take the title.

Many Thanks to referees Simon Taylor and Haris Muhammed, and of course, our sponsors, the Northern Snooker Centre.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Inter League Latest

Inter League Latest.

Sheffield “3” moved 5 points clear at the top of Division 2 after a comfortable 5-1 victory at home to Wakefield, Dave Pagett and Reece Matin starring for Sheffield. Matin now leads the MVP race with 10 wins from 12.

In the only other match played at the weekend, Leeds had a fine 5-1 win at Huddersfield “2”. Scott Clayforth and Danny Waite on target for Leeds.

The next round of matches is on the weekend of 21st/22nd February.

Reece Matin Leading Division "2" MVP
Reece Matin Leading Division “2” MVP

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director