Big snooker prize

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 20

Big snooker prize

Cash snooker tournaments are held frequently in the Nonh Island, but in the past the South Island has shown ! little interest in the idea. However, next year a $2OOO tournament wil be held in Christchurch. It. will be the largest stake offered for such a tournament — twice as much as is usually pro- . vided in the North Island. The man behind the pro- ! posal is Chris Anderson, vicepresident of the Canterbury Billiards and Snooker Association. He is being assisted by one of Canterbury’s leading players, Brian ; Kirkness, and he also 'believes he will get the supiport of the association when it next meets. The dates for the tournament are April 23, 24. 25, and 126, and the venue will be the i Olympia room, which Kirk-

i.ness owns, in Worcester, 11 Street. :| Invitations have been sent! •; to 26 of the country’s lead- ! ing players, and 24 must • accept if the tournament is i'to be run in six initial sec- •! tions, two sections of winners land runners-up, and play-offs i between the section winners land runners-up for the first [four prizes. The first prize, j of SlOOO, will come from $2O 'entrance fees and sponsorI ship. i Already two former ■ national champions, Tom I Yesberg (Manawatu) and ! Brian Bennett (Taranaki), • I have accepted their invitations. Mr Anderson is confijdent that there will be no ! problem in securing a topi class field. . ’ At this stage there are ' likely to be about five Canterbury entrants, Kirkness,

David Meredith, Lou Adams, Bill Adams, and Barry Edlin. The present new Zealand champion, Dayle Kwok (Otago), and the past titleholders, Kel Tristram, Laurie Glozier (both Auckland), Lance Napper (Otago), Dick Flutey (South Auckland), who recently won the national masters title, and Winston Hill (Waikato) are among others who have been invited.

Mr Anderson said yesterday that the intention was to give the Christchurch public a chance to see top players in action, and to provide competition for local players.

“The North Island is much stronger in snooker than the South Island, and it is only by tournaments of this nature that the South will catch up.” he said.