Held at the ACBS Clubrooms and hosted by the ABSA : 18-20 September 2009

This event was full of surprises and highlights for some lower ranked players.

One highlight was Nita Clarkson (soon off to India to play in the Ladies World Championships) taking a frame off the current NZ Champion, Chris Maltby.  Chris Maltby is also travelling to India to represent New Zealand in the World Amateur Snooker Championship.

There were six players in the event that don’t play a lot of ranking tournaments, but are capable players and they certainly caused some upsets in Section Play.  Wyn Belmnt was one casualty not winning a match.

Vanny Ry was the surprise top qualifier, only dropping one frame in Section Play and also haveing a 92 break with 25 points still left ton the table.

Leonard Burton, who hasn’t played in many ranking tournaments for a number of years,  also performed well and was the runner-up in his Section to Vanny Ry.

In Post-Section play Ry lost the first round to the 16th qualifier, Eldon Lai 3/0 and Burton went down to Martin Jones 3/2.  Tony van Wijk caused the major upset of Post-Section play by beating Henry Killian 3/2.  Killian arrived late and started the match 1/0 down but probably should have been able to over come that.  However, Van Wijk is a very good competitive player who doesn’t play in many ranking tournaments.  He then went on to beat Eldon Lai 3/0 to make the Semi-finals. 

Last year’s winner of this event, Mark Hannah seemed to always be in control in his Quarter-final match agains tthe current NZ Champ Chris Maltby, winning 3/1 to make the Semi-finals.  The other Semi-finalists were Clive Thomson and Wayne Belmont.

In the Semi-finals Hannah beat Thomson 3/1 and van Wijk beat Belmont 3/2.

The Final had Hannah playing van Wijk with Hannah beating van Wijk 3/0 to take the title for the second year on end.

Ther overall standard of play was exceptional with 47 breaks over 50.  It was also pleasing to have the services of two NZ Referees, Cliff Hazelton and Dan O’Sullivan.

Last 16: E Lai bt V Ry 3/0, T van Wijk bt H Killian 3/2, M Jones bt L Burton 3/2, W Belmont bt S Roberts, M Scarborough bt F Adams 3/0, C Thomson bt R Clark 3/0, M Hannah bt P Bason 3/0, C Maltby bt R Williams 3/0.
Quarter-Finals: T Van WIjk bt E Lai 3/2, W Belmont bt M Jones 3/1, C Thomson bt M Scarborough. M Hannah bt C Maltby 3/1.
Semi-Finals: T Van Wijk bt W Belmont 3/2, M Hannah bt C Thomson 3/1.
Final: M Hannah bt T Van Wijk 3/0.
Highest Break: V Ry (92)