Posted online: Jul 30th, 2010

Snooker players and fans from all over the world will descend on Letterkenny when the town hosts the World Under 21 snooker championships in the North West Snooker Club from July 31st to August 11th.
This prestigious tournament is the biggest event on the junior snooker calendar and the list of previous winners includes many of the top names in the sport. Among the former winners are Ireland’s own Ken Doherty, China’s Ding Jun Hui, England’s Ronnie O Sullivan, Mark Allen from Northern Ireland and the new WSA World Champion Neil Robertson from Australia.
It is a great chance for local people to see the world’s best young players in action.
The tournament will also provide a significant economic boost for Letterkenny according to John Doherty, Tournament Director and owner of the North West Snooker Club.
“We have 80 players coming from 36 countries. We expect that with supporters and parents there will be between 300 and 400 people coming to town. We expect it to be a big tourism thing.”
The facilities at the North West Snooker Club will be in world-class condition for this prestigious event, and in addition to recovering all the tables, the club has also installed seating for 150 people. Entry to view the matches are free and Mr Doherty welcomed local people along to enjoy some snooker of the highest standards.
The action will also be available on the internet, with four tables streamed live on the internet and scoring available on www.global-snooker.com
There will also be a local player in action at the championships, with Letterkenny’s Gareth Boyle being given a wild card entry for the tournament. Gareth has not played on the national scene this year due to his studies in Galway University but he will be one of nine Irish players hoping to do well on home soil.
“Gareth is playing very well. He’s practicing every day and he’s knocking in centuries.”
Participants started arriving this week and will be staying at Gallagher’s Hotel in the town. The CYMS snooker club will also be providing four practice tables for the players.
The tournament opens on Saturday and play starts on Sunday. The tournament will be run in groups in the early stages with ten groups of eight. These group stages will be run over the first week and then the knockout stages will begin.
The top players from the groups will form the last 32, and this will be followed by the knockout stages which will take four days to complete. The winner will receive a €4000 prize, the coveted title that goes with it, and a place on the professional tour circuit next year.
The North West Snooker Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and holding a world class tournament is a perfect way to celebrate this milestone.
“This is a world event so it’s a very big thing. There is a lot of work involved but I’m looking forward to it,” Mr Doherty added.