Tuesday, 28 April 2026 / Published in Amateur, Announcements

2026 ISHKA Spring Water Irish Amateur Snooker Championships – ENTER NOW

Snooker & Billiards Ireland would like to announce the details of the 2026 ISHKA Irish Spring Water Irish Amateur Snooker Championships ” The Ger Murray Memorial Cup ”.

Snooker & Billiards Ireland are delighted to have ISHKA Irish Spring Water who is one of Ireland’s largest bottled water companies. We are are proud to have them sponsoring this years Championship.

Last year the Murray family donated a new cup in memory of Ger who was known to everyone involved in Snooker & Billiards around Ireland and around the World. Ger sadly died in 2024 and SBI are delighted to have our biggest Championship in memory of the great man.

The first qualification stage will be held at the SBI HQ Academy of Excellence in Carlow on Saturday / Sunday the 16th & 17th of May to find the 16 qualifiers.

ENTER NOW – CLICK HERE

Snooker & Billiards Ireland announced the 2026 championship will be played with the top half playing on the Saturday and the bottom half played on the Sunday.

This championship is open to all ages, genders and abilities to find the Irish Amateur Champion. The winner will follow in the footsteps of all our great players throughout the years. The defending Champion is Davy Morris from Kilkenny.

Players can not choose a particular day to play and the deadline for entries for the 2026 Irish Amateur Snooker Championships will be Thursday 14th May @ 1pm. The draw will be made live on Facebook @ 8pm on the 14th May.

Special Live Presentation

SBI will make a special presentation live from the SBI Academy on the 14th through Facebook from 7pm when players join Tommy O’Donoghue, Davy Morris, Brendan O’Donoghue, Dessie Sheehan, James Stuart O’Reilly, Leslie Carroll and Johnny Farrelll as they talk about this year’s championships and what the championship means to them. The draw will take place at 8pm.

Qualifying Weekend

Players cannot choose to play on a Saturday or Sunday with full draw and match times displayed on the web site.

The top half and bottom half will be played in sessions 10am, 12pm, 3pm and 6pm.
All qualifying matches are the best of 7 frames
We will have referees for all matches on the 16th and 17th.
A professional photographer will be on site both days to take every player’s picture with the cup and every match pairing with referee at the table. (These photos will be available to buy through the photographer himself)
Food will be provided from 12pm both days.
Our social media guru David Lynch will be in our media centre on both days to interview players and take photos for our FB page and social media platforms.
An official session announcer will also be there both days to introduce the players and referee to each table.

2026 Format

Finals Weekend

Last 16 – Friday 5th June @ 7pm
Q-Final – Saturday 6th June @ 10am
Semi Final – Saturday 6th June @ 5pm
Final – Sunday 7th June @ 10am (6frames) & restart at 2pm

2026 Prize Fund

SBI announced the prize fund will be up for grabs for this year’s National Snooker Championship.

Winner €1,000
R/up €500.00
Semi €200.00 each
Quarter €100.00 each
Last 16 €35.00 each

Earlier this week SBI announced that a C.Co bursary award of €1,000 will also go to the Irish Amateur champion and another €1,000 to the number one ranked player after the championship.

The bursary awards are to cover flights, accommodation and meals are paid for, giving him the best possible chance of concentrating on the EBSA men’s championship where a professional ticket is up for grabs for the winner. SBI hope this new initiative will allow our elite players a better chance of concentrating on the job ahead and securing a professional tour card.

Entry Fees – The cost of entry will be the following:

€35.00 for 21 and over
€10.00 for players under 21 and Lady players

Only SBI members can enter and play in SBI tournaments. One-day Registration for non-members is now available at €10.00 if you are not a current SBI member.

Dress Code

The dress code for the 2026 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 matches.
PLEASE NOTE official SBI Polo Shirt not allowed for any National Championships

Finals Weekend

The 2026 SBI finals weekend will feature the last 16 round to the final of the Amateur Championship plus the National Billiards, Century, Challenge, Seniors, Ladies and Super Seniors plus all Junior Finals over the entire weekend of 5th – 7th June in the SBI HQ Academy of Excellence in Carlow.

Some of last years Champions above

Award Presentations

Presentations of all the SBI National Championships and Award winners will also be made over the weekend. All winners will be presented with their awards and have an official photoshoot after the final of the Amateur Snooker Championships in the HQ.