10 Rileys amateurs chase World Snooker prize

(Posted: 5 Aug 2010)

10 Rileys club players get big break to take on superstars

10 amateur snooker players will play in the preliminary rounds of the World Snooker Open after winning regional qualifying tournaments at Rileys.

The players could go on to meet snooker superstars Ronnie O’Sullivan or World Champion Neil Robertson if they are successful at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, from Saturday August 21 to Tuesday August 24.

The World Snooker Open – billed as the FA Cup of Snooker – has an open draw which can see amateur players pitched up against the biggest names in the sport.

The winners in Sheffield play in the Finals at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow from Saturday September 18 to Sunday September 26.

The Rileys qualifiers are:

Ian Glover, Belton, Qualified in Rileys Leicester
Gary Thompson, Clarkston, Qualified in Rileys Glasgow
Matt Williams, Churlston, Qualified in Rileys Plymouth
Sam Harvey, Haynes, Qualified in Rileys Stevenage 
Alan Morgan, Caerphilly, Qualified in Rileys Cardiff
Richard Beckham, Saltburn by the sea, Qualified in Rileys Middlesbrough
James Loft, Hastings, Qualified in Rileys Guildford
John Whitty, Liverpool, Qualified in Rileys Preston
Jamie Edwards, Norwich, Qualified in Rileys Norwich
Marc Davis, Aberdeen, Qualified in Rileys Dunfermline  

They will compete for the World Snooker Open trophy and a share of the £500,000 prize fund in front of a global TV audience of up to 200million.

More than 1,000 amateur players entered regional qualifiers at Rileys. The 10 who got through have had their £300 entry fee covered by Rileys.

Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “We felt they deserved a reward for their fantastic achievement of getting through to the Sheffield qualifiers.

“Rileys are pleased to put up the £300 entry fee for each qualifier. It is a thank you from Rileys to each of them, and their supporters, for using our clubs and facilities. And who knows, every minnow can have his day!”

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn, said: “I was delighted to see so many players entering the Rileys club tournaments - it shows how popular the game is at amateur level.

“There has been some great snooker played in the early rounds and the winners going through to the professional stages are of a very strong standard.

“It will be fascinating to see how they do against the pros and I will be watching closely to see if any of them can get through to the televised stages in Glasgow.”