WITH big-time professional snooker returning to Northern Ireland next week with the Coral Northern Ireland Open, the game’s governing body World Snooker will be working closely with Northern Ireland’s local amateur body – Northern Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association – at the Titanic, Belfast venue.
NIBSA members, including some of the local game’s finest young talents, will be promoting its own tournaments at both senior and junior level and appealing to the snooker public to become more involved in the game’s renaissance.
NIBSA chairman Raymond McAllister says the whole week represents a great opportunity to revive the public interest in the game to the levels it enjoyed in the 1980s.
‘‘The Northern Ireland Open is the biggest and best thing to happen to snooker here in many years and NIBSA is determined to make the most of the opportunity it offers to promote the local game and ensure that the event is a regular on the snooker calendar,’’ he said.
The juniors will be handing out leaflets highlighting the organisation’s calendar of events, while also showing off their skills at the event’s Cue Zone.
All attending will be welcome to challenge them.
Two of Northern Ireland’s leading amateurs – Anthony Heaney and Dermot McGlinchey – will also be at the Cue Zone to offer coaching tips and take part in various challenges including clearing the colours against the clock.
NIBSA referees will also be present to advise anyone interested in donning the white gloves.
On display at the NIBSA stall will be a range of photos and memorabilia including some of the game’s most legendary figures from these shores, notably Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins – whom the Coral Northern Ireland Open trophy is named after – Dennis Taylor, Joe Swail and Mark Allen.
The Northern Ireland Amateur Championship Trophy will also be on display along with the Interprovincial Championship Trophy recently won by the game’s leading amateurs.
Northern Ireland amateur champion Patrick Wallace – a former World Professional Championship quarter-finalist – and runner-up Jordan Brown will join the 128-strong field, which also includes Irish pros Mark Allen, Joe Swail, Ken Doherty, Fergal O’Brien and Josh Boileau.
