The last couple of weeks has been quiet enough on the snooker front but that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been some action on the baize of late.
Indeed, it’s difficult to find any period of the year nowadays when absolutely nothing is going on.
Despite this, even us hardy folk who write almost daily on the sport need a little respite of our own and that is why, you’ll forgive me I’m sure, there’s been a short hiatus of content on the website.
Fear not, though, as we will be returning to full activity ahead of the upcoming Asia- Oceania leg of the calendar that commences next week.
Here’s a brief round-up of what’s gone down lately.
Irishman Masters Europe
Ireland’s Mark Tuite turned in a brilliant performance to capture success at this week’s European Championship in Bulgaria.
The 45 year-old from Limerick, a regular in the international amateur events at Masters level in the last few years, reached the knockout phase without too much fuss before building in confidence as the rounds progressed.
A stunning 5-3 triumph over Welsh former pro and defending champion Darren Morgan in the last four, where Tuite compiled a run of 98, brought him to his first final.
There, Tuite was involved in a topsy-turvy tie with Alain Vandersteen as the lead interchanged throughout before Tuite eventually overcame the Belgian in a thriller 6-5.
The level of support shown on the likes of Facebook hinted at how Tuite’s glory went down with a great deal of popularity and it marked a fitting conclusion to what has been a strong year for the Irish on the amateur scene.
Josh Boileau, who could only make the last 16 in the senior European event this time around alongside Rodney Goggins and Jason Devaney, contested the finals of both the World and European Under-21 Championships – with Cork’s David Cassidy also featuring in the semi-finals of the latter.
Attention for the Irish will turn now to the annual Home Internationals tournament which takes place at Leeds’ Northern Snooker Centre in August.
The European Mann
Meanwhile, In the main event at the European Championship, England’s Mitchell Mann gained silverware with a 7-2 triumph over countryman John Whitty.
The 22 year-old certainly earned success the hard way, though, having had to deal with the challenges of highly fancied competitors Gareth Allen, Jamie Clarke and Duane Jones before he even made the final.
Aside from the honour of claiming a prestigious international title, Mann’s other, and perhaps more lucrative, reward is a two-year Main Tour card as he gets promoted to pro.
Lines Wins Pink Ribbon
A lot of focus in recent months may have been on son Oliver, following his win at the European Under-21 Championship in March, but father Peter Lines is still well capable with a snooker cue and proved as much by emerging victorious from a massive field to capture the 2014 Pink Ribbon.
This competition has been a successful pro-am for five years now and is run for a good cause, with this year more than £10,000 being raised for Breast Cancer Awareness.
World Snooker Freeze Carter’s Ranking
Finally, a small bit of good news for Ali Carter amid what has otherwise been a dreadful couple of weeks for the two-time World Championship runner-up.
After finding out that he is battling cancer for the second time in as many years, World Snooker has decided to freeze Carter’s ranking for the time being so that he can concentrate all his efforts on a full recovery.
Of course, everyone wishes him the best of luck.
