James Brennan from Co. Mayo won the 147academy National 12’s Championship on Sunday the 7th of June in the SBI Academy in Carlow during SBI Finals weekend. In the final James beat defending Champion Callum Behan from Dublin in a high quality final 3 frames to 1 to take the title.
SBI Chairman John Tobin presented the perpetual shield to James. Young James also won the high break with his 45 break earlier in the event.
The 12th Under 12 Irish National Snooker Championship was held on the 24th of May in the SBI Academy of Excellence in Carlow. The 2026 final will be a repeat of the 2025 final after defending Champion Callum Behan from Dublin will play James Brennan from Mayo during finals weekend.
Twelve years ago Corey Ramsbottom from Carlow won the first ever U-12 Title in 2014. This year the final promises to be fantastic with two young stars of the future looking for the title during finals weekend from 6th – 7th of June.
Players from Dublin, Mayo, Cork, Wexford entered the event. This event is sponsored by The 147 Academy of PJ Nolan. This event has a free entry fee to encourage all young players from all parts of Ireland to participate in a SBI National event.
SEMI FINALS
- Callum Behan 2-0 Albert Adamczyk
- James Brennan 2-0 Ronnie McCormack Reck
In the semi finals this year we had the 2024 Champion James Brennan and the 2025 Champion Callum Behan plus two 8yrs old snooker stars with Albert Adamczyk from Cork and Ronnie McCormack Reck from Dublin. both were the youngest semi-finalists ever which bodes well for the future.
In recent years the u-12 title has also been won by Noel Gleeson, Leone Crowley, Jack O Brien and Joe Shannon, Liam Dunne, James Brennan and Calum Behan who have all went on to play in European or World Junior Championships. All matches were the best of 3 frames. The final willm be best of 5 frames.
SHOOT OUT
We also had a mini shoot out for first round losers and again we had fantastic snooker. End of the day it was Dan Galli from Wexford who beat Luke Dempsey in a great final that was refereed by Declan Cummins.
Big thank you to all the players, parents and clubs around the country for the support to this event. National Coach PJ Nolan said he was delighted to see the standard rising each year. James Brennan holds the current high break with 45, this shows the standard of our Irish stars of the future.
This season players like Gearóid Dempsey, James Twomey, Riley O Mahony, Daniel Kenefick, Ronnie McCormack Reck, Luke Dempsey and Dan Galli and Albert Adamczyk have all impressed and they well be the stars for next year’s title, so keep practicing boys and the talent and passion is there and keep on enjoying it.
The 2026 147academy final in June will be a classic with two former champions. who wins, nobody knows but i would ask everyone to watch it as these two players are incredible.
