Northern Ireland Amateur Championship

Last updated

Northern Ireland Amateur Championship
Tournament information
Country Northern Ireland
Established1927;98 years ago (1927)
Organisation(s) NIBSA
FormatAmateur event
Recent edition2024
Current champion Ulster Banner.svg Darren Dornan

The Northern Ireland Amateur Championship (often referred to as the Northern Ireland Championship) is an annual snooker competition. It is the most prestigious amateur event in Northern Ireland.

Contents

History

The first year of the championship was 1927, when G. Barron defeated G.R. Duff. It was not held in the years 1940 and 1942–44 due to World War II and in 1972 and 1973 because of The Troubles. [1]

Many players who have appeared in the final of the tournament have gone on to be professional, most notably including two-time World Snooker Champion Alex Higgins, former world number one Mark Allen, 25-time Irish Professional Champion Jackie Rea, World Championship semi-finalist Joe Swail, World Championship quarter-finalist Patrick Wallace (who has won the competition a record eight times) and ranking event winner Jordan Brown.

Other players who have gone on to be professional include Tommy Murphy, Jack McLaughlin, Martin O’Neill, Michael Duffy, Declan Hughes, Julian Logue, Joe Meara, Sean O'Neill, Dermot McGlinchey and Robbie McGuigan. Currently Allen, Brown and McGuigan are playing on the World Snooker Tour.

The current champion is Darren Dornan, who defeated Ryan McQuillan 10–5 in the 2024 final to win the national title for the first time in his career

Winners

YearWinnerRunner-upFinal score
Amateur
1927 [2] Ulster Banner.svg Gibson Barron Ulster Banner.svg Robert Duff381–331 [nb 1]
1928 [3] Ulster Banner.svg J. Perry Ulster Banner.svg J. Blackburn414–327 [nb 1]
1929 [4] Ulster Banner.svg W. Little Ulster Banner.svg Capt. John Ross282–276 [nb 2]
1930 [5] Ulster Banner.svg J. Luney Ulster Banner.svg Gibson Barron351–285 [nb 1]
1931 [6] Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg W.R. Mills288–273 [nb 2]
1932 [7] Ulster Banner.svg Capt. John Ross Ulster Banner.svg W.R. Mills266–207 [nb 2]
1933 [8] Ulster Banner.svg J. French Ulster Banner.svg J. Chambers281–218 [nb 2]
1934 Ulster Banner.svg Capt. John Ross Ulster Banner.svg W. Price329–199 [nb 2]
1935 Ulster Banner.svg Billy Agnew Ulster Banner.svg Capt. John Ross281–227 [nb 2]
1936 [9] Ulster Banner.svg W. Lowe Ulster Banner.svg Sam Brooks326–228 [nb 2]
1937 Ulster Banner.svg J. Chambers Ulster Banner.svg J. Blackburn4–0
1938 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg Billy Sanlon4–3
1939 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg Sam Brooks4–3
1940No competition due to World War II
1941 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg A. Heron4–2
1942–1944No competition due to World War II
1945 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg Charles Downey4–0
1946 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McNally Ulster Banner.svg Jackie Rea 4–3
1947 Ulster Banner.svg Jackie Rea Ulster Banner.svg Jack Bates4–2
1948 Ulster Banner.svg Jack Bates Ulster Banner.svg Ted Haslam4–1
1949 Ulster Banner.svg Jack Bates Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson4–2
1950 Ulster Banner.svg Jack Bates Ulster Banner.svg John Dickinson4–2
1951 Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson Ulster Banner.svg Ted Haslam4–1
1952 Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson Ulster Banner.svg Dan Turley4–1
1953 Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson Ulster Banner.svg Joe Thompson4–1
1954 Ulster Banner.svg Billy Seeds Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson4–2
1955 Ulster Banner.svg Jim Stevenson Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill4–1
1956 Ulster Banner.svg Sam Brooks Ulster Banner.svg George Lyttle4–3
1957 Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson4–1
1958 Ulster Banner.svg Billy Agnew Ulster Banner.svg Billy Hanna4–3
1959 Ulster Banner.svg Billy Hanna Ulster Banner.svg Billy Seeds4–3
1960 Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson4–3
1961 Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill4–1
1962 Ulster Banner.svg Sean McMahon Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson4–2
1963 Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson Ulster Banner.svg Jimmy Clint4–2
1964 Ulster Banner.svg Paddy Morgan Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill4–2
1965 Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Crothers4–1
1966 Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Crothers Ulster Banner.svg Billy Caughey4–3
1967 Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Crothers4–1
1968 Ulster Banner.svg Alex Higgins Ulster Banner.svg Maurice Gill4–1
1969 Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson Ulster Banner.svg Alex Higgins 4–0
1970 Ulster Banner.svg Jimmy Clint Ulster Banner.svg Noel McCann4–3
1971 Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Crothers Ulster Banner.svg Dessie Anderson4–2
1972 [10] No competition due to the Northern Ireland conflict
1973 [11]
1974 Ulster Banner.svg Paddy Donnelly Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Pavis4–1
1975 Ulster Banner.svg Jimmy Clint Ulster Banner.svg Sean McMahon4–1
1976 Ulster Banner.svg Eddie Swaffield Ulster Banner.svg Donal McVeigh4–1
1977 Ulster Banner.svg Donal McVeigh Ulster Banner.svg George Maxwell4–0
1978 Ulster Banner.svg Donal McVeigh Ulster Banner.svg Liam McCann4–2
1979 Ulster Banner.svg Raymond Burke Ulster Banner.svg Jim Begley4–3
1980 Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Clarke Ulster Banner.svg Donal McVeigh4–3
1981 Ulster Banner.svg Tommy Murphy Ulster Banner.svg Billy Mills4–3
1982 Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Pavis Ulster Banner.svg Kieran Erwin9–8
1983 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McLaughlin Ulster Banner.svg John McIntyre10–4
1984 Ulster Banner.svg Jack McLaughlin Ulster Banner.svg Harry Morgan10–3
1985 [12] Ulster Banner.svg Sammy Pavis Ulster Banner.svg Kieran Erwin10–9
1986 Ulster Banner.svg Colin Sewell Ulster Banner.svg Gordon Campbell10–4
1987 Ulster Banner.svg Seamus McClarey Ulster Banner.svg Gordon Campbell10–4
1988 Ulster Banner.svg Paul Doran Ulster Banner.svg Joe Swail 10–7
1989 Ulster Banner.svg Harry Morgan Ulster Banner.svg Martin O'Neill10–5
1990 Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McAlinden Ulster Banner.svg Martin O'Neill10–9
1991 Ulster Banner.svg Michael Duffy Ulster Banner.svg Joe Swail 10–9
1992 Ulster Banner.svg Declan Hughes Ulster Banner.svg Andy Sharpe10–8
1993 Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Kieran Erwin10–8
1994 Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McAlinden Ulster Banner.svg Michael Duffy10–6
1995 Ulster Banner.svg Julian Logue Ulster Banner.svg Colin Bingham10–4
1996 Ulster Banner.svg Joe Meara Ulster Banner.svg Paul King10–6
1997 Ulster Banner.svg Jonathan Nelson Ulster Banner.svg Paddy Doherty10–5
1998 Ulster Banner.svg Martin O'Neill Ulster Banner.svg Jonathan Nelson10–8
1999 Ulster Banner.svg Michael Duffy Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McMahon10–2
2000 Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Barry McNamee10–2
2001 Ulster Banner.svg Sean O'Neill Ulster Banner.svg Julian Logue10–5
2002 Ulster Banner.svg Joe Meara Ulster Banner.svg Jonathan Nelson10–7
2003 Ulster Banner.svg Mark Allen Ulster Banner.svg Colin Bingham10–4
2004 Ulster Banner.svg Colin Bingham Ulster Banner.svg Joe Meara10–9
2005 Ulster Banner.svg Mark Allen Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McMahon10–1
2006 Ulster Banner.svg Dermot McGlinchey Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McMahon10–9
2007 [13] Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Joe Meara10–5
2008 [14] Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown Ulster Banner.svg Julian Logue10–9
2009 [15] Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown Ulster Banner.svg Dermot McGlinchey10–4
2010 [16] Ulster Banner.svg Dermot McGlinchey Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McMahon10–8
2011 [17] Ulster Banner.svg Kieran McMahon Ulster Banner.svg Brian Milne10–5
2012 Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Dermot McGlinchey10–4
2013 Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown 10–4
2014 Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Raymond McAllister10–4
2015 [18] Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown 10–2
2016 [19] Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown 10–8
2017 Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown Ulster Banner.svg Dermot McGlinchey10–8
2018 Ulster Banner.svg Jordan Brown Ulster Banner.svg Patrick Wallace 10–5
2019 [20] Ulster Banner.svg Declan Lavery Ulster Banner.svg Darren Dornan10–5
2020 Ulster Banner.svg Declan Lavery Ulster Banner.svg Robbie McGuigan 10–9
2021 [21] Ulster Banner.svg Robbie McGuigan Ulster Banner.svg Rab McCullagh10–4
2022 [22] Ulster Banner.svg Robbie McGuigan Ulster Banner.svg Rab McCullagh10–6
2023 [23] Ulster Banner.svg Robbie McGuigan Ulster Banner.svg Raymond Fry10–8
2024 [24] Ulster Banner.svg Darren Dornan Ulster Banner.svg Ryan McQuillan10–5
  1. 1 2 3 Aggregate score over 7 frames.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Aggregate score over 5 frames.

References

  1. "Global Snooker Countries – Northern Ireland". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. "G. Barron Wins Snooker Title". The Belfast Telegraph. 5 April 1927. p. 11.
  3. "Ulster Snooker Championship". The Belfast Telegraph. 18 April 1928. p. 11.
  4. "Northern Snooker Championship". Northern Whig. 9 May 1929. p. 2.
  5. "Final of Ulster Snooker Championship". Northern Whig. 25 April 1930. p. 5.
  6. "Ulster Snooker Final". News Letter. 20 March 1931. p. 2.
  7. "Ulster Snooker Final". News Letter. 5 March 1932. p. 11.
  8. "Ulster Championships: French beats Chambers". The Belfast Telegraph. 27 February 1933. p. 11.
  9. "Snooker Title Final: W. Lowe beats S.R. Brooks". The Belfast Telegraph. 12 February 1936. p. 6.
  10. Snooker Scene. July 1972. p. 7.
  11. name="Billiards back" https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1970-01-01/1979-12-31?basicsearch=billiards&somesearch=billiards&retrievecountrycounts=false&sortorder=score&newspapertitle=belfast%2Btelegraph&page=1
  12. Snooker Scene. August 1985. p. 21.
  13. "Patrick's Day". Snooker Scene. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  14. "Jordan's Top of the Pots". Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  15. "Right On Cue – Jordan Brown's story". Eurosport. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. "Castlederg's Dermot McGlinchey wins the Northern Ireland Championship for a second time". Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  17. "McQuillan shines in St Patricks Cup" . Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  18. "2015 Northern Irish National Snooker Championship". The Cue View. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  19. "Dungannon ace Patrick Wallace wins Northern Ireland title for an amazing eighth time". Tyrone Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  20. "Lavery Claims Northern Ireland Title". WPBSA. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  21. "McGuigan Becomes Youngest Champion". World Snooker. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  22. 'McGuigan Defends Northern Irish Title'. WPBSA, 29 March 2022, retrieved 15 August 2022
  23. "Magic McGuigan Makes it Three-in-a-Row in Northern Ireland". WPBSA. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  24. "WPBSA International Round-Up May 2024". WPBSA. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.