Yorkshire Billiards Championship Update

Yorkshire Billiards Championship Update

We have an encouraging 24 entries for this year’s resurrected Yorkshire Billiards Championship which runs alongside the final stages of this year’s Snooker Championship on Sunday 21st April at the Northern Snooker Centre.

The field will be split into 6 groups of 4, with the group winners joining the 2 best-performing runners-up to form the quarter-finalists. Group matches will be 60 minutes, the QF’s and SF’s 75 minutes and the final 90 minutes.

The anticipated timings are as follows-

Doors Open at 09:00. Players are to register by 9:45

10:00-11:00 1st round of group matches.
11:15 -12:15 2nd round of group matches.
12:30-13:30 3rd round of group matches.

13:30-14:30 Break.

14:30-15:45. Quarter Finals.

16:00-17:15 . Semi-Finals

17:30-19:00 Final.

The make-up of the groups is as follows-

Group 1. Tony Brown. Jimmy Gratton. John Bedford. Kyle Cunningham.
Group 2. Brian Barnett. Bob Ledger. Chris Jarvis. Simon Kippax.
Group 3. Mark Hirst. Ron Bickerdike. Andrew Harris. Tom Middleton.
Group 4. Darren Kell. Phil Stocks. Keerath Bhandaal. James Waterfall.
Group 5. Mark Graham. Michael Readman. Richard Bowes. Jonathan Marwood.
Group 6. Paul Shore. Craig Fitzpatrick. Gerard Garland. Paul Roberts.

Groups will be decided on the following criteria.
1. Number of wins
2. Points difference
3. Points scored.

Quarter Finals will be

Winner G1 V Winner G2
Winner G3 V Runner Up qualifier
Winner G4 V Winner G5
Winner G6 V Runner Up qualifier

A reminder that dress code applies. No Jeans, trainers or collarless T-shirts please.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Brighouse extends their lead at the top of Division 1

Brighouse extends their lead at the top of Division 1.

There were just 2 games played in Division 1 at the weekend which both ended up as 3-3 draws.

Craig Butler put Brighouse into a 3-1 lead against Sheffield “1” but David Whitby fought back to salvage a draw. The result extends Brighouse’s lead at the top of the division to 5 points but closest chasers Sheffield “2” have 2 games in hand.

In the other match, Castleford and Ossett fought out a 3-3 draw with all three matches ending 1-1.

Leeds “1” v Rotherham was postponed and joins Sheffield “1” v Leeds “1” and Sheffield “2” v Leeds “1” as matches which need to be re-arranged

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Last 4 quarter finalists decided

The last 4 quarter finalists are decided.

After a long eight and a half hour day of snooker, the quarter-final lineup for this year’s Yorkshire Snooker Championship has been completed.

The first player through on the second qualifying day was Leeds player Kuldesh Johal, Undoubtedly the star performer on the day “Kully” had breaks of 130,103,94,91 and 82 and qualified without the loss of a frame. A 3-0 victory over Kaif Shazad sealing his place in the last 8.

Next through was Halifax’s Mark Ball, Breaks of 80 and 64 helped him to 4 victories for the loss of just one frame, finishing with a convincing 3-0 win over Ant Green.

The third qualifier was Wakefield “veteran” Mick Stocks. A fine 3-1 win over Scott Raper was the last of his 4 wins.

Finally, at around 7pm, Harrogate’s Tom Harris claimed the fourth qualifying spot with a battling 3-1 defeat of Jason Evans-Bates.

So the quarter-final lineup for April 21st is as follows-

Peter Lines (Leeds)
Dan Womersley (Leeds)
Michael Whaley (Mirfield)
Gary Milne (Scarborough)
Kuldesh Johal (Leeds)
Mick Stocks (Wakefield)
Tom Harris (Harrogate)
Mark Ball (Halifax)

The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on the morning of the 21st April immediately before commencement of play.

As usual thanks to regular referee Andy Kitson and of course to our sponsors the Northern Snooker Centre.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Continue reading “Last 4 quarter finalists decided” →

Brighouse back on top

Brighouse back on top.

In the top-of-the-table clash in Division 1, Brighouse won a high-quality match defeating Sheffield “2” 4-2. Michael Whaley (67) and Lee Roberts (59,66) put the home side well in command before Will Lemons crucially pulled 2 back for Sheffield.

Shaun Wilkes had a 69 break but still failed to win a frame! Lee Roberts extended his lead at the top of the MVP list.

Lee extends his lead at the top

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elsewhere, Rotherham beat Castleford 4-2. Martin Ollivent and Chris Hickman gained maximum points before Grant Chapman replied for Castleford.

In the other match, Ossett had a fine 4-2 win at Sheffield “1”. Jason Taggart proved the difference between the sides.

The outstanding match between Sheffield “1” and Leeds “1” has been scheduled for March 24th. Sheffield “2” v Leeds “1” TBC.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q1 Qualifiers

The first 4 qualifiers are decided

The first 4 qualifiers through to the quarter-finals of this year’s Yorkshire Championship were decided today in a high-quality day of Snooker.

In the bottom half of the draw, it was local Leeds players Dan Womersley and Peter Lines who progressed. Lines had the day’s top break with a 137 clearance in his final match against Samuel Lee-Stevens.

In the top half, Michael Whaley needed a snooker on Pink and Black in the decider against Withernsea’s Hamza Ilyas and then needed to pot a re-spotted Black to defeat Shaun Wilkes 3-1 to qualify for the last 8. He was joined by Scarborough’s Gary Milne who ran in breaks of 125,48 and 64 throughout the day to gain the final qualifying spot.

We do it all again on the 24th when the final 4 qualifiers will be decided.

Thanks to our sponsors the Northern Snooker Centre and to “roaming” ref Andy Kitson.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Continue reading “Yorkshire Snooker Championship Q1 Qualifiers” →

Sheffield 2 Hit top spot in Division 1

Sheffield “2” Hit top spot in Division 1
With Division 2 fixtures now paused until late April, the focus turns to Division 1 and after this weekend’s matches it’s Sheffield “2” who are in pole position at the top, level on points with Brighouse but with a match in hand.
In the Sheffield derby, “2” defeated “1”  5-1, David Dalton and Will Lemons(53) taking maximum points with Shaun Wilkes adding a 72 break for good measure.
Brighouse kept the pressure on with a 4-2 win at Castleford, Craig Butler was the difference between the teams.
In the other match, Ossett had a fine 4-2 victory over Leeds “1”, Mick Stocks and Jason Taggart starring for the home side, Lewis Harper (56) getting 2 back for Leeds.
Lee Roberts and David Dalton head the MVP race with 11 wins each, Will Lemon’s 101 break is still the best so far.
Lee Roberts hits M.V.P top spot with joint “11” wins but takes advantage by “Playing” more matches.
Sheffield “2” v Leeds “1” and Sheffield “1” v Leeds “1” still outstanding.
The next round of fixtures is on the weekend of March 16/17 which includes a top-of-the-table clash between Brighouse and Sheffield “2”.

Inter-League Round Up

League Round Up

Brighouse are the new Division 1 league leaders after whitewashing Rotherham in their re-arranged match last weekend. Andrew Owen, Lee Roberts and Luke Drennan all gained maximum points.

Sheffield “1” v Leeds “1” and Sheffield “2” v Leeds”1″ are still outstanding.

In Division 2 league leaders Leeds “2” was held to a 3-3 draw at bottom of the table Huddersfield, however, 2nd placed Wharfedale couldn’t capitalise as they went down 4-2 at near neighbours Harrogate. Stuart Jauncey gave the visitors the lead before Kaif Shazad and Tom Harris (68) hit back for Harrogate. Shazad moving to the top of the MVP list in the process.

In the other match Sheffield “3” had a 4-2 win at Bradford, Reece Matin doing the damage for the away side, Dave Pagett chipping in with a 53 break.

All matches in Division 2 are up to date.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Yorkshire Snooker Singles Championship 2024 Draws

Yorkshire Snooker Singles Championship 2024 Draws

Entries for this year’s Yorkshire Snooker Championship have now closed, with 81 players having registered for the competition, up slightly on the last couple of years.

There is an uneven split across the 2 qualifying days with only 29 players saying they were available on the 10th, whereas 52 could only make the 24th.

The draws for the 2 days are below.

All players on the 10th should register by 10am for a 10:30 start.

On the 24th the players in the top half of the draw (first 16 matches) should register by 10am for a 10:30 start.
All other players should register by 11:30 and matches will commence when tables become free.

4 players will qualify from each day. Prize money TBC.

Continue reading “Yorkshire Snooker Singles Championship 2024 Draws” →

League Round Up

League Round Up

There were 3 games played in Division One at the weekend.

Sheffield “2” extended their lead at the top of the table to 5 points with a 4-2 away win at Ossett. Mick Stocks put the home side 2 frames up before Will Lemons and David Dalton hit back for the Sheffield. Dalton staying top of the MVP race with 9 wins from 10.

Rotherham had a fine 4-2 win at Sheffield “1”, Chris Hickman proving the difference between the sides. The other match between Leeds “1” and Castleford ended all square, with all 3 matches tied 1-1.

There are 3 outstanding matches in this division-

Sheffield “1” v Leeds “1”
Rotherham v Brighouse
Sheffield “2” v Leeds “1”

There was just one re-arranged match played in Division 2 which is now up to date.

Bradford came away from Harrogate with a 4-2 victory, Haneef Rafiq starring for the visitors. Harrogate’s Kaif Shazad chipping in with a 60 break.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Shaun Liu takes the Under 16 title in a final frame thriller

Shaun Liu takes the Under 16 title in a final frame thriller.

Last season’s English Under 14 champion Shaun Liu (13) from Sheffield defeated Pocklington’s Harry Goddard (14) 2-1 to take this year’s Yorkshire Under 16 title.

In the best-of-3 final, Liu took the first frame 103-15 with the aid of a 42 clearance. Not to be outdone, Goddard fought back and levelled the match with a 67-10 win in the second frame. In the decider Liu potted the Yellow to go 26 in front with 25 remaining, only to see the white fly into the middle pocket to give Goddard a reprieve. Goddard then calmly took Yellow to Blue and landed perfectly on the Pink, only to see it rattle in the jaws.
A couple of shots later he potted the Pink and left himself a tricky Black into the middle pocket which again rattled in the jaws leaving a relieved Liu a simple Black for victory.

Johnny Collier (11) and Iwan Jones (13) were the defeated semi-finalists in a 12-strong field.

Thanks to referee Andy Kitson and to our sponsors the Northern Snooker Centre.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Harry Goddard with Referee Andy Kitson and Shaun Liu