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Some of NSW and Southern Queensland’s best snooker players will converge on Taree for the 2017 Club Taree – Midcoast Automotive Group Champion of Champions Snooker Tournament on June 24-25.
Last years winner, Hassan Kerdi from Sydney will be defending his title against runner-up, and 2015 winner, Adam Waller from Queensland and 2014 winner Terry Emmett from Sydney.
Also tipped to play well is Rob Elsley from Sydney, a recent runner-up of the 2017 NSW State Masters Snooker Championships.
Thirty two players all up have entered the tournament to play for more than $2300 in prize money.
Club Taree Snooker and Billiards Club president Roy Peisley expects some good play during the weekend.
“We expect to see some great snooker in the semi finals and finals,” he said.
“Some of these players are too good for their local comps and now only play tournaments.”
Top local seeds are Wingham’s Barry Carlaw, Harrington’s Nick Henlan and Forster’s Gary Collins.
And while Roy tips Carlaw as the local favourite he also suggests there’s not much between these top players and a lot depends on their luck on the day.
“We call it the rub of the green – the ball can either run for you or it goes against you.”
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Also confirmed for the tournament is ex local Michael Sharp who now lives in Sydney but returns each year for the tournament.
“He’s playing well,” said Roy.
“He got an 87 break in the Australian Masters only a few weeks ago.”
Sharp learnt to play the game while living in Taree and was a protégé of the event’s most successful competitor, Terry Simmons. He won it in 1999 for the first time and again in 2000.
The champion of champions snooker tournament dates back to 1986 when it was just a one day event for local club champions held at the Wingham Services Club.
Terry Simmons from the home club won the event. He went on to dominate the title for the next eight years, when he won on seven occasions and was runner up once.
At his peak Simmons was playing semi-professionally in England. However, during his reign on the local snooker tables Simmons had limited time to play or practice because of work commitments.
The champion of champions event has been held in Taree for the past 20 years expanding to include top players from NSW and Queensland with the 2017 tournament attracting Midcoast Automotive Group as its new major sponsor.
Play for the 2017 event begins at Club Taree on Saturday June 24 from 9am.
Finals will be played after lunch on Sunday June 25.
Spectators very welcome to attend either day.