Leeds Hosts LITEtask UK Open Billiards Championship

64 players from 8 countries descend on the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds this weekend for the LITEtask UK Open Billiards Championship.

This championship has a history dating back to 1934 when the legendary Joe Davis won all of the pre war events. Younger brother Fred Davis took the spoils in 1951 and 1982, a gap of 31 years between his two titles. Other top players with their names on the trophy include former world champions Rex Williams, Mark Wildman, Norman Dagley, Mike Russell, Robby Foldvari, Geet Sethi and David Causier (pictured).

The tournament was discontinued in the early 2000s when the professional game disbanded, but is now being revived as an open event by World Billiards Ltd, a company set up 4 years ago by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to administer the game of billiards worldwide. With the help of LITEtask as title sponsor the event has attracted a record number of players to compete for this prestigious title.

Amongst the competitors are current English champion Rob Hall, former English and European champions Martin Goodwill and Phil Mumford, and Irish champions Wayne Doyle, Aidan Murray and Larry Drennan.

Also, three former UK champions are making an appearance: David Causier, the 2013 World Champion who was the last holder of the UK title, 1999 winner Roxton Chapman, and flying the flag for Leeds, 1988 champion Ian Williamson. Ian’s family own and run the Northern Snooker Centre where the event takes place, and have been regular supporters of the game of billiards over many years, also hosting the World Championship since 2007. Ian’s brother Chris said: “We are proud to be bringing back such a long standing and prestigious event with such a rich history, and staging it at the Northern Snooker Centre.”

Mark Pears, Managing Director of sponsor LITEtask, added: “It is a fantastic start to our association with the game of billiards that we have such a fantastic entry for the resurrection of the UK Billiards Championship.”

Play starts at 10am on Saturday with the round robin group matches. The knockout stage starts on Sunday, also at 10am, with the final scheduled for 6pm. Entry for spectators is free of charge.

For more information see www.world-billiards.com