Ireland’s top under 21 cueists were in action at the first RIBSA U-21 qualification for the 2018 IBSF World U-21 Championships and the U-21 Home Internationals on Sunday the 14th of January in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow.
End of the day it was young Aaron Hill from the Crucible SC in Cork who won the title with a stunning display and now moves to No.1 on the U-21 rankings.
- In the final
The final was the Number 1 and 2 seeds Aaron Hill from Crucible SC and Ross Bulman from Youghal CYMS battling against each other and both played a superb in the final with great potting and break building. Frame 1 saw Aaron make a 50 to win it. Frame 2 Ross had a 76 to level the match at 1-1. Frame 3 Arron made a 46 to go 2-1 up. Frame 4 was close but it was Aaron who won it and the match 3 frames to 1 to take the title.
- In the Semi Finals
In the first semi final Aaron Hill beat Stephen Bateman 3 frames to 2 and Ross Bulman beat his club mate Noel Landers 3 frames to nil in a high quality match in the other semi final.
- In the Q Finals
Number 1 seed Aaron Hill from Crucible SC beat his team Michael O Sullivan 3-0, Stephen Bateman from the Kilkenny Shed beat Ronan Whyte from Northwest SC in a dramatic match 3 frames to 2.. Noel Landers Youghal CYMS beat Aaron Holland from Terry Rogers SC 3-0, Number 2 seed Ross Bulman from Youghal CYMS beat Dylan O Shaughnessy from Crucible SC 3-0.
- High Break
Stephen Bateman won the highest break of the day with a fantastic 96 break, Other top breaks were Stephen Bateman 77 and Ross Bulman 77.
RIBSA will hold two more International Ranking tournaments plus a National Championships to qualify players for the International Events. These events are open to all the underage players and if any player loses their first match on the day they can play in a plate event on the same day.
National Coach PJ Nolan was TD on the day and RIBSA Referee Conor Doyle was in charge. RIBSA would like to thank all the players, Officials and the Ivy Rooms SC for hosting another successful day of Irish U-21 Snooker.
Mark Gleeson wins the Plate Event
Mark Gleeson from Nenagh and Sean King from Maynooth SC reached the final of the plate event on the day. In the final Sean won the opening frame to go 1-0 up but back came Gleeson to level the match and force a decider. In the decider Mark got an early lead and he won the decider to win the event 2-1.
In the plate semi finals Mark beat his younger brother Noel 2-0 while Sean beat John Landers from Youghal CYMS 2-0 in the other semi final.
- RIBSA U-21 Format in 2018
The International events will be the best of 5 frames including the final and the Plate event will be the best of 3 frames including the final.
- Event No. 2 – Enter Now
You can now text your entry to RIBSA on 085 2428701. This is a text number only and you must include your name, club and name of the event you wish to enter
- Closing Dates
The closing date for entries will be the Friday before each event @1pm and the draw will be then published on the ribsa web site at 3pm.
- Entry Fee
The entry fee will be €10.00 plus Reg. This can be paid on the day. Trophies will be awarded to the plate winner and runner up of the three events. The three prize funds from the ranking events will be divided up for the players playing at the World Championships.
- Tournament Director
This new structure will be organised by our National Coach PJ Nolan who will be the Tournament Director at every U-21 event. Qualification will run from January to May to qualify players for the IBSF Championships and the Home Internationals which will be held in July and August.
- All juniors can qualify
All juniors have a chance to qualify for the IBSF / HIBSF events with this new system and players can also qualify through the Senior Rankings as RIBSA will give the highest ranked junior on the senior ranking a qualifying spot for the both Championships. This is to encourage more juniors to compete in the senior events.
- Dates of Events
February 18th: UNDER 21 IBSF INTERNATIONAL & PLATE – 2
April 8th: UNDER 21 IBSF INTERNATIONAL TOUR & PLATE – 3
April 22nd: NATIONAL UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Qualifying for IBSF U-21 / HIBSF U-21 Championships
National U-21 National Champion
Number 1 on Under 21 International Rankings
Highest U-21 on Senior Rankings – at end of season
Additional players from U-21 International Rankings if needed
