Snooker & Billiards Ireland held the qualification stages of the 2022 Irish Amateur Snooker Championships to qualify 16 players which was held in the SBI HQ Academy of Excellence in Carlow on Saturday the 14th and Sunday 15th of May.
16 players have now qualified and they all dream of becoming Irish Amateur Champion for 2022.
This championship was open to all ages, genders and abilities to find a new the Irish Amateur Champion who will follow in the footsteps of the legends from our sport. The defending Champion is Brendan O Donoghue from Nenagh who won the title in 2021.
The Top Half
The top half of the draw was played on Saturday 14th and the action began with great matches and it was the defending champion and number 1 seed Brendan O Donoghue who got safely through and we will face Sean King who really impressed on the day with breaks of 55 and 74.
Former Champion Martin McCrudden made a dream return to qualify and will face three-time European Champion Mark Tuite in one of the ties in the last 16.
Dubliner Paul McGrane beat No. 5 seed Mark Walsh to qualify and he will now face Wexford’s Adam Halnon from Gorey in the last 16.
The final two qualifiers on day one was Colvin O Brien and Greg Casey, Colvin has qualified for both the Intermediate and Amateur Championships next weekend so it will be a busy period for the Carlow man, Greg Casey the No.4 seed really impressed with 57 and 83 breaks.
The Bottom Half
No. 3 seed David Cassidy beat former finalist Johnathan Williams in a great match to qualify and he will face Stephen Sherry who beat leading player Stephen Bateman and Lewis Casserly and it promises to be a great match.
Aaron Goldrick had a fantastic day when he beat John O Sullivan to qualify and he will face Tony Corrigan in the last 16 round after Tony beat No. 6 seed Philip Browne.
No.7 seed Noel Landers got through and will play Ronan Whyte with both young players impressing on the day to set up a last 16 tie.
The last two players to qualify was the No. 2 seed Ryan Cronin who impressed on the day and he will now face Amen Goel after Amen played brilliant to beat Andrew Doherty and Brendan Murphy to set up a last 16 tie against the number 2 seed from Cork.
CLICK FULL RESULTS / BREAKS / LAST 16 LINE UP
FINALS WEEKEND
The finals weekend will feature the Amateur last 16 to the final, the two National Billiards Finals, plus the Challenge and Intermediate semi-finals and finals throughout the weekend of Saturday / Sunday the 21st & 22nd of May in the SBI HQ Academy of Excellence in Carlow.
Prize Fund
There will be a €1800 prize fund will be up for grabs for this year’s National Amateur Snooker Championships.
- Winner € 750
- R-Up € 350
- Semi Finalists 4 x € 150
- Q-Finalists 4 x € 75
- High Break € 100
Total Prize Fund € 1800
2022 Format
All qualifying matches are the best of 7 frames.
- Last 16 – Best of 7 – Saturday 10am
- Q-Final – Best of 7 – Saturday 2pm
- Semi Final – Best of 11 – Saturday 6pm
- Final – Best of 13 – Sunday 11am
Dress Code
The dress code for all SBI National Championship is full dress:
- NO POLO SHIRTS
- Dark Shoes (no runners)
- Dark one coloured trousers (no jeans)
- One coloured shirt buttoned at the wrist and waistcoat.
- Waistcoats must be worn for all matches.
- National Waistcoats are not permissible
- Bowties are also required for the SBI Championships weekend and all matches.
More Information email SBI info@sbireland.ie
SBI would like to thank TD Shane Mason, Referees Conor Doyle, Steven Foster and Richie Toal and all the players and supporters on making it a great weekend of Snooker. It promoses to be another great weekend next weekend with so many great matches lined up for the Finals weekend. Good luck to everyone.
The full playing schedule with times, formats, table numbers, referees and markers assigned to each match is announced below
