Cavan  Pool  Player  Is  Crowned

Ulster  Open  8-Ball  Champion

Alan Mc Bennett (Cavan) defeated Billy Moore (Antrim) 6-2 to win the inaugural Ulster Open 8Ball Pool Championship at the Coach Inn venue Omagh which was organised and promoted by Ireland’s Pub Players 8Ball Pool Tour.

Alan Mc Bennett (Cavan) 2007 Champion.

Ireland’s recent 10,000 euros winner takes all champion was in tremendous form throughout the tournament battling his way through a top class field of up to  60 players from throughout the 32 counties to claim his title victory….

It all started for Alan in the last-64 with a 5-0 victory over Eamon Mc Colgan (Donegal) and followed that up with the same score over Tyrone’s young junior player Nathan Todd in the last-32 before defeating N. Ireland’s top player Conor Mc Cann (Tyrone) on a 5-2 score-line to move into the ¼-finals, where he just got over the line on this occasion putting amazing black to defeat Tyrone’s Damien Corrigan 5-4.

The four semi-finals LtoR: Ben Mc Moran (Tyrone), Alan Mc Bennett (Cavan),
 Stephen Dempsey (Cavan) and Billy Moore (Antrim).

By this this stage of the tournament it was really getting tougher for Alan and that was proved when he drew the current 2007 European 8Ball Pool Champion and his good friend and team mate Stephen Dempsey also from Cavan, but the repetition of Stephen didn’t stop Alan once again putting in another fine performance coming from 4-1 down to reach his and the new tours first final on Ireland’s Pub Players 8Ball Pool Tour running out a 5-4 winner over the current European champion.

While Alan made his way into the final and waiting to see who would progress to play him from the other half of the draw it was Billy Moore (Antrim) the current N. Ireland international who was putting performance after performance to reach his first final also recording some great victories over top players along the way Alan Patterson Charlie Hanlon, Ronnie Boyle, Mark Ward, and top junior player Ben Mc Moran.

Pictured before the final Alan Mc Bennett (Winner, Cavan)
and Billy Moore (Runner-up, Antrim).

The early stages of the final seen game for game go to both players before Alan Mc Bennett moved up a gear to play outstanding pool to get over the line to win 6-2 and be crowned the 2007 Ulster Open 8Ball Pool Champion and go straight into the number one position as the number one ranked player on Ireland’s Pub Players 8Ball Pool Tour (reds & Yellows)…..

For Alan’s efforts he received the £400 winners cheque and the crystal trophy as well being the tours number one ranked player….

Please click here to view the tours official rankings:

Tournament Highlight:

In every tournament there is highlight that stands out with players and spectators and this event is no different which must go to Tyrone’s 14 year-old junior player Ben Mc Moran after the performance the young player put in to reach the semi-finals of this major event with a top class field of players who entered.

Ben reached the semi-finals defeating top class players starting it all of with a 5-3 victory over Tyrone’s county player Mark Stockton in the last-64, Shane Mallon also another great player 5-4, N. Ireland junior international Ryan Craig from Ballmoney Co. Antrim also 5-4, and current N. Ireland  senior international Nigel Craig 5-3 in the ¼-finals before losing 5-0 in the semi-finals to the tournaments runner-up Billy Moore (Antrim)….

Next Tournament:

The tournament will be taking place on Saturday 16^th June in Stranolar / Ballybofey Co. Donegal when the 2007 Co. Donegal Pub Players 8Ball Pool Championship takes place. All players are reminded that there is no guaranteed a place in the draw if there not pre-entered and the tours official dress code in place.

If anyone would like to enter or receive more information please contact 07776365059

Or from Rep of Ireland (0044) 777 6365059 or by email rbirish8ball@yahoo.co.uk or visit the tours official website by clicking on the link provided at the top of the main page at www.irelands9balltour.com 

Results:

Last-32:

Conor Mc Cann (Dungannon)         5-1    Chris Beattie (Aughnacloy)

Alan Mc Bennett (Cavan)                5-0    Nathan Todd (Omagh)

Seamus Doyle (Fintona)                  5-2    Chris Dolan (Donegal)

Damien Corrigan (Fintona)             5-3     Brendan Mc Donagh (Dromore)

Stephen Dempsey (Cavan)              5-0     Lee Booth (Omagh)

Gareth Quinn (Fintona)                   5-4     Johnny Beggs (Dungannon)

Paul Corrigan (Fintona)                   5-2     Shane Loughran (Omagh)

Seamus Mc Ardle (Jun) (Omagh)   5-1      Paul Mc Daid (Donegal)

Ryan Craig (Ballymoney)                5-3      Adam Mc Mackin (Beragh)

Ben Mc Moran (Fintona)                 5-4      Shane Mallon (Dungannon)

David Mc Quillan (Cavan)               5-0     Adam Gibney (Beragh)

Nigel Craig (Ballymoney)                5-2      Gary Mullin (Omagh)

Gavin Geraghty (Meath)                  5-0       Noel Murphy (Meath)

Mark Ward (Ballygawley)                5-2      Sammy Mc Lean (Ballymoney)

Billy Moore (Ballymoney)               5-0      Charlie Hanlon (Meath)

Ronnie Boyle (Tyrone)                     5-0      John Mc Mahon (Cavan)

Last-16:

Alan Mc Bennett     5-2    Conor Mc Cann

Damien Corrigan     5-0    Seamus Doyle

Stephen Dempsey    5-2    Gareth Quinn

Seamus Ma Ardle    5-3    Paul Corrigan

Ben Mc Moran        5-3    Ryan Craig

Nigel Craig              5-1    David Mc Quillan

Mark Ward              5-4    Gavin Geraghty

Billy Moore             5-4    Ronnie Boyle

¼-Finals:

Alan Mc Bennett   5-4   Damien Corrigan

Stephen Dempsey  5-2   Seamus Mc Ardle

Ben Mc Moran      5-3   Nigel Craig

Billy Moore           5-0   Mark Ward

Semi-Finals:

Alan Mc Bennett   5-4    Stephen Dempsey

Billy Moore           5-0    Ben Mc Moran

Final:

Alan Mc Bennett   6-2   Billy Moore