Irish Pool

PHOTO:
Ben Mc Moran (Tyrone) 2010 Co. Donegal Open 8-Ball Champion.

All roads led to Letterkenny last weekend for the first event on the newly named Irelands 32 County 8-Ball Pool Tour when the 4th annual Co. Donegal Open 8-Ball Championships took centre stage on Saturday 23rd January played in the beautiful Arena 7 venue in Letterkenny followed the next day (Sunday 24th) by the first event in 2010 Ireland’s 8-Ball Challenge Tour Series which offers over 4,000 in prize-money.

The weekend produced top class pool which seen almost up in 100 players take part over the two days play with the newly named tour introducing a new playing handicap system for the first time for all events in the 2010 season except the Pro-Tour and Challenge Tour.

The weekend was a major success and enjoyed by all players but come Saturday evening it was Tyrones young sensation and Irish Junior International Ben Mc Moran who was crowned 2010 champion winning his first official ranking tournament and becoming the third Tyrone player to go on the roll of honours list of these prestigious Championships in the four year history of the event joining Damien Corrigan (Tyrone, 2007 champion), Brendan Mc Donagh (Tyrone, 2008 champion) and Ronan McCarthy (Down, 2009 champion).

Ben went into the tournament with a +2 handicap and played brilliant pool throughout the day to claim the title recording fantastic victories over Ronnie Boyle (last-32, 7-5), Carl Martin (last-16, 7-4), Standley Nelson (-Finals, 7-3), Sean Mc Veigh (semi-finals, 7-3) before winning a last frame decider against Niall Mc Menamin (Fermanagh) in the final to be crowned 2010 Champion.

A great achievement for Ben who is the new 2010 Co. Donegal Open 8-Ball Champion which moves him into number one in the tours official rankings after this first event and will put him in good form when he travels to England in February representing the Irish 8-Ball Junior Team at 2010 European 8-Ball Pool Championships.

It was great to see a good turnout of lady players taking part over the weekend with Irelands 32 County 8-Ball Tour putting a new ladies tour in place for the 2010 season with all the lady players at the Donegal championships receiving the fixture list which will also be advertised shortly on the following website www.rballsports.com along with a new Under-23 8-Ball Tour.

LAST-32:
Nathan Todd 7-4 Noel Brennan
Damien Mc Fadden 7-4 Annette Pearson
Sean Mc Veigh 7-0 Brian Doherty
Martin Gallagher 7-1 Michael O Hara
Carl Martin 7-2 Willie Handratty
Ben Mc Moran 7-5 Ronnie Boyle
Rosey Mc Ginty 7-0 John Duggan
Stanley Nelson 7-4 Cathal Devine
Gareth Kirwin 7-1 Mark Moore
Marty Boyle 7-5 Shane Doherty
Adam Gibney 7-5 Paul Rennicks
Paul Corrigan 7-1 Mathew Campbell
Niall Mc Menamin 7-3 Marty Peoples
Eddie Kirk 7-2 Sean Sharky
Brian Curtis 7-6 Tony Mulhern
Daryl Beattie 7-3 David Moore

LAST-16:
Nathan Tood 7-4 Damien Mc Fadden
Sean Mc Veigh 7-4 Martin Gallagher
Ben Mc Moran 7-4 Carl Martin
Stanley Nelson 7-3 Rosey Mc Ginty
Gareth Kirwin 7-4 Marty Boyle
Adam Gibney 7-5 Paul Corrigan
Niall Mc Menamin 7-3 Eddie Kirk
Brian Curtis 7-4 Daryl Beattie

-FINALS:
Sean Mc Veigh 7-3 Nathan Todd
Ben Mc Moran 7-3 Stanley Nelson
Adam Gibney 7-2 Gareth Kirwin
Niall Mc Menamin 7-5 Brian Curtis

SEMI-FINALS:
Ben Mc Moran 7-3 Sean Mc Veigh
Niall Mc Menamin 7-5 Adam Gibney

FINAL:
Ben Mc Moran 7-6 Niall Mc Menmin

NEXT EVENT:
Saturday 20th February 2010: N. Ireland Open 8-Ball Championships
Sunday 21st February 2010: Ireland’s 8-Ball Pro-Tour —– (Event 1)

Article courtesy of www.rballsports.com