Steven Hallworth
Amateur Snooker, Finals, Snooker Headlines

Steven Hallworth wins oldest snooker tournament

Steven Hallworth won the 2024 English Amateur Championship on Sunday at the Landywood Snooker Club in Walsall.

The Lincoln lad emerged as the victor from a close final with Callum Downing that ended 6-4.

The English Amateur Championship is snooker’s oldest and longest-running tournament, dating back to its inaugural staging in 1916.

Former champions include the likes of Ray Reardon, Jimmy White, Stuart Bingham, and Jack Lisowski.

The tournament has often acted as a springboard for players based in England to go on and enjoy further success on the World Snooker Tour.

The 2012 English Amateur Championship final was contested between Gary Wilson and Martin O’Donnell, who last month met again as professionals in the final of the Welsh Open.

Hallworth had been the pre-tournament favourite with online bookie bet365, and he lived up to that tag.

The 28 year-old was involved in several nail-biting affairs though, needing to come through two deciding-frame thrillers in the early rounds of the final weekend.

A 4-3 triumph over Vladislav Gradinari in the last 16 was followed by a 5-4 success against Craig Steadman where he needed the last three frames to advance.

Things were more straightforward in the semi-finals, Hallworth thrashing Nathan Jones with a whitewash display.

In the final, he faced an opponent in Downing who had already dispatched of reigning champion Paul Deaville in the preliminary stages.

In the last four, Downing also secured a standout victory over veteran Nigel Bond, the 1989 English amateur champion.

The showdown for the silverware proved to be a nip and tuck battle, with Downing repeatedly clawing back deficits to restore parity.

At 4-4 the title was up for grabs, but Hallworth pulled away at the crucial moment by winning the last two frames.

“It means the world to lift this title,” a delighted Steven Hallworth told the EPSB after his win.

“The history and prestige attached to it is something else. The names on the trophy are incredible and now mine will be on it.”

“It’s not very often as snooker players we leave an event with a smile on your face. If you can’t celebrate the wins when they come then what are you playing for.

“I was buzzing to strap that trophy into the passenger seat of my car last night and drive home, I’m absolutely made up.

“I wasn’t too happy with my game before the event, I’d just hit it hard in Benidorm for my stag do with mates from my village, plus fellow players Oliver Brown, Sanderson Lam and Oliver Lines.

“Oli Lines will be the death of me. I love those boys to bits and we had a great time.

“When we got back I was commentating on the Championship League so hadn’t really practiced, but I was fresh for the event and fought really hard all weekend which was so, so pleasing.

“All my focus now is for Bosnia and the WPBSA Q Tour Global Playoffs next week.

“I’m confident and nobody will want to draw me so hopefully I can get the job done out there and come back with a tour card.

“The week after I then get married so what a month this could turn out to be

“Huge shout to my sponsors Jim Smith of J S Tailoring Lincoln and my title sponsor T R Weston & Son LTD steel fabricators in Lincoln.

“Glynn & Claire Weston have been life long family friends and have sponsored me for the last few seasons.

“To have them there yesterday see me lift the trophy made it all worth while.

“Win or lose they want to be there to support me and to have them by my side for the photos with the trophy honestly meant everything to me.

“Players in general, not just myself, appreciate the support of people and companies like you wouldn’t believe.

“It’s this support that allows us to do what we love and hopefully one day have moments like yesterday. I owe an awful lot to them and to everyone that has supported me previously.”

After capturing the most prestigious title of his career, the Englishman will next be hoping to reclaim a place on the main tour as a professional player.

Hallworth will have an opportunity to do that via the Q Tour when he competes in the upcoming Global Play-offs, with three main tour spots in Sarajevo up for grabs.


2024 English Amateur Championship

Final Weekend Results

Last 16

Craig Steadman 4-1 Gary Milne
Steven Hallworth 4-3 Vladislav Gradinari
Hamim Hussain 4-3 John Welsh
Nathan Jones 4-2 Jeff Cundy

Matthew Glasby 4-1 Marcos Dayao
Callum Downing 4-3 Lewis Ullah
Sydney Wilson 4-1 David Brown
Nigel Bond 4-1 Lee Martin

Quarter-Finals

Steven Hallworth 5-4 Craig Steadman
Nathan Jones 5-2 Hamim Hussain
Callum Downing 5-2 Matthew Glasby
Nigel Bond 5-2 Sydney Wilson

Semi-Finals

Steven Hallworth 5-0 Nathan Jones
Callum Downing 5-2 Nigel Bond

Final

Steven Hallworth 6-4 Callum Downing


Featured photo credit: EPSB

One Comment

  1. Michael Waring

    The English Amateur Championship is currently organised by the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB) as the National Governing Body in England.
    However, on their website and social media, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) appear to be suggesting it is one of their trophies.
    The EPSB is an independent organisation and not part of the WPBSA.

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