Philip Burke from Ennis has emerged victorious in the inaugural Century Tour event held at St. John’s Snooker Club in Limerick this past weekend.
A competitive field of 27 players battled it out over Saturday and Sunday for the coveted title. Notable entries included former intermediate champions Frank Sarsfield and Thomas Hickey from Limerick, as well as current number one seed Alan O’Connor from Cork.
The highlight match of the first round featured Michael Burke, making his national event debut, against Oliver Martyn from Tuam. After a titanic battle, Oliver prevailed 3–2. Another noteworthy match saw club mates Frank Sarsfield and Mike Howley face off, with Frank winning 3–0, though two frames were closely contested.
The second round was equally intense, with number one seed Alan O’Connor overcoming James Higgins 3–2 after recovering from a 2–0 deficit. Kevin McMahon also triumphed in a fierce contest against Lloyd Myers, winning 3–2. Remaining seeds Richard Flynn, Eric Pie, and Jay Chopra all advanced unscathed.
The quarterfinals showcased top-tier talent. Young gun Jamie McCarthy from the Crucible in Cork defeated Jay Chopra 3–1, while Alan O’Connor similarly beat Kevin McMahon. Philip Burke secured a 3–0 victory over Richard Flynn, and Frank Sarsfield triumphed over Eric Pie 3–1.
After a long day of play, the semi-finals were set. Philip Burke defeated Alan O’Connor 3–1 in a thrilling match, highlighted by Philip’s comeback from 61 points down in the third frame to steal it on the pink. In the other semi-final, Jamie McCarthy, with a break of 50, won the third frame, but Frank’s experience shone through as he closed out the match 3–1.
Fittingly, the two best players of the day met in the final. Frank took the first frame, but Philip rallied to lead 2–1. Philip missed the match-winning pink, allowing Frank to pot a stunning pink and black to force a decider. The final frame was a back-and-forth affair, but Philip ultimately secured the title.
In addition to the championship, Philip also claimed the high break prize with an impressive 75, along with notable breaks of 67, 49, 48, and 46. Other remarkable breaks included a 70 from Kevin McMahon, 68 and 56 from Frank Sarsfield, and 56 from Cathal Moore.
SBI extends its gratitude to Tournament Director Anthony Cronin for running a fantastic event and to referee Pat Mooney for managing the tables. We also thank St. John’s Limerick for their hospitality, with players praising the excellent conditions.
We look forward to seeing everyone at event number two on November 2nd!
