The annual Saffron Walden and District Snooker League Memorial Cup tournament, took place at Saffron Walden Snooker Club on the Sunday 18th November 2018, kindly sponsored by Stalley & Manley Builders and Decorators.  The tournament format; 20 league players split into two groups of 10. Nine round robin matches, played off league handicaps.  The prize, two tickets to both the afternoon and evening sessions of the Masters Snooker Championship at the Ali Pali on Monday 14  January 2019.

Group Stages

Both groups were closely contested, both decided by the final round of matches.  If tied, the player who won the corresponding head to head match would progress.

Sam Duce won group A outright with 7/9 frames.  Second place tied between John Manley and Trevor Parsons 6/9 frames.  John progressing by head to head result.  Group B was won outright by Aaron Gibson 8/9 frames.  Second place tied between Leon Mozjeko and Mark Starr 7/9 frames. Leon progressing by his head-to-head result.

Semi-Finals

Sam Duce (-22) vs Leon Mozejko (+16) – Single frame

Aaron Gibson (-4) vs John Manley (-10) – Single frame

The two group runners up progressed to the final.  The head start too much for Sam, with continued good play from Leon, his second successive final.  Aaron’s great form shown during the round robin stages eluded him.  Johns solid play saw him gain a place in the final.

Final

Leon Mozejko (+16) vs John Manley (-10) – Best-of -Three Frames

John started the match better, Leon a little nervy.  The players were almost level approaching the end of frame one. John looking the favourite.  A pivotal moment changed the direction of the match.  Leon’s safety shot, with a flick off the yellow snookered John behind the brown ball.  From this, Leon’s consistent form shown all day came to the fore.  Clinching the frame and winning the final 2-0.

Alongside the main tournament, a high break award.  This year, a player’s handicap would influence their high break.  Adding points to a player with a high handicap and subtracting from the lower handicapped, on a sliding scale.  This introduced to enable any player a chance of winning.  Last year’s overall tournament winner Simon Giblin won the high break award by one point over Jamie Sanderson.

Big thanks for all 20 players whom made the competition a success, enjoyed by all, Saffron Snooker Club for the venue and preparing the tables to the highest quality and finally our Life President Dan Lewis for running the event.

Report by Phil Chapman