Plymothian Chris Coumbe just can’t get enough English Billiards…fresh from competing, refereeing and commentating in World Billiards events, the 2024 English Open and the 2024 World Billiards championship both held in Landywood Snooker Club, Walsall, he returned home to Plymouth to win the West of England English Billiards Open championship.
Coumbe was met in the final by former winner of WEBSF and Devon English Billiards events, Graham Ward from Sidmouth. After a closely fought contest, where both players struggled to play at their best, Coumbe won by just eight points. This title is the icing on the cake for Coumbe after wining the the Devon Open Billiards title, played at the same venue in September. Ward had the consolation of recording the highest break of the tournament.
The plate event was won by Dave Nicholls in another close match against Jack Tambling, both players are from Cornwall. Dave White from Southampton won the Plate highest break. Photo’s of the event.
The WEBSF are promoting the West of England English Billiards Open tournament on Sunday 3rd November 2024 at The Plymouth Snooker Academy, Plymouth.
Find out more about the tournament and how you can get involved as a player, volunteer or spectator. Places are limited so don’t delay to avoid disappointment.
It was with sadness that we record the death of our patron, Ray Reardon M.B.E. Six times former World Professional Snooker Champion, on 19th July 2024.
Ray Reardon’s achievements on the snooker table is recorded in snooker history for all to see and firmly establishes him as one of the all time greats of our game.
His generosity to associate with the WEBSF as patron from our launch day in 2004 has help ‘open doors’ that otherwise would be closed to a small not-for-profit organisation. For that act of kindness alone the WEBSF Management Team volunteers and participants are grateful. His presence will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
Massive congratulations from all at the WEBSF to Haydon Pinhey on securing a 2-year Main Tour card. It may have taken a few bites at the cherry, but your belief and determination speak volumes….as the Japanese proverb goes Fall four times and stand up five. Take time to enjoy this moment before you get your head down and go again….as a professional!!
Follow Haydon’s progress as a professional on his website.
After what feels like a long period of inactivity, the WEBSF management team has started to meet and talk about plans for the 2022/23 season and beyond.
Our activity will continue to be shaped around coaching, tournaments, and volunteering, which are still considered the core aspects of what we do.
Challenges we’ve faced
The last few years have been some of the most difficult to manage during the WEBSF’s history. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a stark reminder to prioritise physical and mental health and wellbeing over everything else.
Given our ambition to create and sustain participation in cue sports, it has been very difficult to take the decision to stop our activity for an extended period of time. We know this will have had an impact on players, volunteers, and businesses.
Things to get excited about
We will provide more updates and details soon, but here’s a taste of what’s to come.
Coaching We will review the formats and structures behind coaching activity to ensure that we are delivering high-quality coaching to individuals and groups.
Tournaments Our plan is to organise a small number of tournaments within the 2022/23 season across billiards and snooker disciplines.
Volunteering We intend to continue our efforts to recruit more volunteers to the foundation. The more we can share responsibility and acquire new skills, the more effectively we can sustain our activity.
Thank you
We’d like to thank everyone who has stuck with us for your continued support and patience.
We really look forward to the next chapter and hope you’ll get involved.
Even though restrictions are starting to change across the UK, our coaching and tournament activity is still postponed.
We will continue to monitor the guidance from the Government and sporting governing bodies to inform any decisions we make.
Please visit the Government website for the latest advice and guidance about COVID-19.
What can you do in the meantime?
In order to provide a new way to participate, we have created a voluntary opportunity for you to share your favourite practice routines or creative practice set-ups for us to use in our coaching.
As a precautionary measure to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have postponed our coaching and tournament activity.
Our coaching and tournaments bring people together from different age groups and locations. Some of our participants may also have an underlying health condition. Therefore, we are acting decisively to reduce the risks of viral spread by taking the responsible action to postpone our coaching and tournament activity.
We will continue to monitor the guidance from the Government and sporting governing bodies. Events will be rescheduled as soon as we believe it is safe to do so.
Please visit the Government website for the latest advice and guidance about COVID-19.
How long will activity be postponed?
The safety and wellbeing of all our participants and volunteers is our priority. Therefore, coaching and tournaments will resume when we are sure it is safe to do so.
Please continue to check our website and social media channels for updates.
Will you get a refund if you’ve paid your tournament entry?
If you have paid for an event that has been postponed, we will refund your entry.
Will you lose your place if you’ve booked a coaching session?
When the coaching session has been rescheduled, we will contact you to see if you can still attend the session. If you unable to attend, your place will be made available to someone else.
Can you still get 1-2-1 coaching?
Even though 1-2-1 coaching does not bring a large group of people together, it still brings people into close contact for one or two hours.
Therefore, we will not be running 1-2-1 coaching until further notice.
In an exciting climax to the 2019/2020 WEBSF Gold Series season, Ryan Mears completed an incredible trio of tour event triumphs at Top Q Snooker Club last weekend, in the process claiming the prestigious overall rankings title for the first time by just one point.
Going into the fifth and final event of the campaign in Gloucester, only events 3 and 4 champion Andy Symons and Mears were able to finish as number one in the standings. A semi-final defeat for Symons at the hands of Mears, coupled with the Aldershot cueist winning the competition meant that Mears’ name would be etched onto the roll of honour, in this the 16th year of the series.
The Groups Stage
In Group A, teenage debutant Oliver Sykes took the event by storm. A player on the invitational EPSB Under-21 Premier Development Tour, Sykes brushed aside all in front of him as he won all six matches to top the group and qualify for the knockouts with several half-century breaks to boot. Joining him in the last eight was late addition to the tournament Matthew Hulatt, who recovered after losing his opening two fixtures to finish in second. Tour regular James Height narrowly missed out on making it through by just one frame in third place.
The tour gave a warm welcome back to Lee Walters, and the Plymouthian proved his class by winning Group B. In a fascinating outcome to the group where several permutations were possible going into the final round of matches, it ultimately came down to a father and son clash between Wayne and Dale Branton for the remaining quarter-final spot. It went all the way to the final black in the deciding frame which Dale duly deposited.
Symons went into the event as the rankings leader, although his day did not start according to plan, as the car he was travelling up in broke down. He managed to get to the venue in time for his first match, though, and regrouped from the morning drama to win all his matches and finish first in Group C. Former Gold Waistcoat/Series champion Greg Batten continues to be consistent upon his return to the WEBSF as he also advanced to the single elimination phase.
Group D was arguably the toughest to call at the start of proceedings, perhaps exemplified with former gold event winners Haydon Pinhey, Andy Rogers and Steve Brookshaw all failing to progress. With five wins Mears headed the group, whilst Worcester’s Andy Smith ended second with four wins. Brookshaw looked well placed for qualification having won his first four fixtures, but two late defeats opened the door for Smith to get in front.
A plethora of breaks was produced during the groups phase with Brookshaw compiling the highest with a 98. Symons was not far off with a 94.
The Event 5 Quarter-Finalists
The Knockout Rounds
With the two contenders for the coveted number one spot still involved, an intriguing evening’s action played out at Top Q.
First to book his place in the semi-finals was Tavistock’s Symons, who spent little time denying Hulatt 2-0. The remaining three matches went the distance, with most eyes on the Mears v Branton tie. Despite losing the first frame, Mears recovered to record a 2-1 victory and keep his hopes of the overall prize alive. Smith (76 break, first frame) overcame Walters and youngster Sykes continued to impress with performances beyond his years as he dispatched the experienced Batten.
The meeting everyone wanted to see materialised in the last four as Symons faced Mears – this was a repeat of this term’s event one final from Jesters in Swindon. In a thrilling opening frame, Mears established a handy lead before Symons constructed a run of 51. However, Mears got the opportunity to re-counter, clearing from yellow to black to go 1-0 up. To Symons’ credit, he kept his cool and focus to level up, but he was unable to seize the advantage in the decider as Mears ousted him 2-1 to move into another final. Elsewhere, Smith was quietly going about his business as he ended the ambition of Sykes, 2-1; chalking up efforts of 52 in the first frame and 70 in the third.
Following a long day’s play in Gloucester, in what was a relatively scrappy final with few chances to score big, Mears converted to score a 2-0 success and shelf his third title of the 2019/20 season after his back-to-back glories at Swindon and Torquay. With Symons reaching the semi-finals undefeated earlier in the piece, Mears destiny was in his own hands, although he needed to win the competition in order to secure the overall Gold Series Championship. In one of the tightest finishes to a WEBSF campaign we’ve ever seen – he did.
A huge thank you must go to all the volunteers – including series referee Nick Harry – venues, players, parents, guardians and supporters who have joined us for the journey this season. The series would not be possible without you all.
The next stop for the West of England Billiards and Snooker Foundation is the invitational Gold Masters which takes place on Saturday 4th April 2020 at Frames Snooker and Pool in Weston-super-Mare. This unique straight elimination event brings together the top 16 ranked players from this season’s Gold Series. Featuring some of the best amateur snooker players from the south-west and beyond, the WEBSF is searching for an event sponsor to help support the 2020 Gold Masters. If you are able to assist us with this, please visit our ‘Contact’ page here for ways to get in touch.
Steve Brookshaw became the fourth different cueist in as many years to lift the West of England English Billiards Open trophy following his triumph at Jesters Snooker Hall in Swindon last weekend.
Two times a winner of the WEBSF Billiards Open, Brookshaw emerged from a quality and varied entry of 25 players to claim his first WoE Billiards Open success.
Billiards Bonanza! Everyone is ready for action.
Groups Stage
Finalist at this season’s WEBSF Billiards Open, Terry Azor went undefeated, winning all six of his fixtures to top Group A. Joining Azor in the last 16 knockout rounds were second placed David Gillingham (5 out of 6 wins), third placed Roy Jenkins and fourth placed Graham Riley.
In arguably the ‘group of death’, defending champion Ryan Mears won Group B with a 100% record and the highest break of the event, 113. Brookshaw racked up a plethora of sizeable contributions including efforts of 108 and 106 in coming second; third placed Chris Coumbe fashioned a 98. Qualifying alongside this recent world championship trio was Phil Davis.
In Group C experienced campaigner Jamie Wayman (77 and 51 breaks) headed the section with five from five, whilst a hat-trick of half centuries aided Wales’ Eddie Duggan into second. WEBSF Billiards newcomer Naufer Saleem (third) and Mark Hill (fourth) also progressed.
Just one win seperated the top four in Group D; Korbin Lowe (60 and 56 breaks) ousting Martin Phillips to the group number one spot after finished on four wins each. 2018 runner-up Michael White (third – 58, 58 and 54 breaks) and Mahmoud Alzaid (fourth) were the others to advance.
2020 West of England English Billiards Open Finalists Steve Brookshaw and Chris Coumbe. Volunteer Referee David Cook officiated throughout the day at Jesters.
The Knockout Phase
Mears’ quest to retain the title remained on course when a run of 92 helped him eliminate Alzaid. Coumbe (60 break) edged past Gillingham by just 13 points in the closest climax of the last 16 round, although Riley’s 141-123 success over Wayman was not far behind. Saleem’s spirited debut was ended by Brookshaw, whose 61 break was well timed in a 165-118 outcome. Azor, White, Jenkins and Davis (55 break) were the others to make it through to the last eight following their 40-minute wins.
The upset of the tournament came in the quarter-finals when Mears was dethroned by Jenkins 116-60, whilst a run of 57 from White proved not to be enough as Azor pipped him by only five points (142-137). The biggest breaks of the round were crafted by Coumbe (98) and Brookshaw (60) as they ended the hopes of Riley and Davis respectively.
An all-Plymouth final was later confirmed as 2017 finalist Coumbe got the better of Azor 148-128 and Brookshaw did likewise to Jenkins 119-84 in the semi-finals. Teammates and travel partners for major billiards events around the UK, Europe and beyond, Coumbe and Brookshaw met in the title match. In a relatively low scoring final, the decorated Brookshaw (55 break) completed the WEBSF English Billiards double with a 163-89 win.
In the plate competition for those who didn’t qualify for the knockout phase of the main event, Martin Howell overcame David Riley 114-99 in the final to become victorious.
The West of England Billiards and Snooker Foundation would like to thank host venue Jesters Snooker Hall, its staff and volunteer referee David Cook for all their hard work and dedication throughout the day.
Andy Symons joined an exclusive band of cueists who have won back-to-back Gold Waistcoat / Gold Series tour event titles following an emotional victory at Frames Snooker and Pool Club last weekend.
Tavistock maestro Symons emerged from a 27-player strong entry in Weston-super-Mare, featuring several former overall series and tour event champions, and other top-quality opposition from across the south west and beyond. A man on a mission, Symons made his intentions clear early on as he headed Group A with six wins from six and relinquished just two frames. Going through to the knockouts with Andy was James Height (four wins from six), who narrowly ousted Billy Ginn to qualification by just one frame.
In Group B, former Gold Series champion Haydon Pinhey got off to a fast start as he rattled in a 121 clearance during his opening match; this would stand as the highest of the day. Pinhey would progress through to the last eight but he finished behind event one and two winner Ryan Mears who racked up a full quota of match wins.
Greg Batten – another former claimant of this coveted series title – continues to impress on his return to the circuit as he topped Group C. Late entrant Tom Peasland was certainly pleased that he made the commitment to come as he also advanced to the last eight in second place.
There was a Torbay lockout in Group D as century break makers James Lee and Andy Neck qualified. Lee, runner-up at the West of England Open earlier this season, notched up maximum wins, although record three-time series winner Neck was less comfortable as he pipped Wes Peters into second by virtue of a frame.
Along with all eight qualifiers, Steve Brookshaw (60), Ginn (70,66), Darran Lock (83 – highest non-qualifier break, 75), Andy Rogers (61), Jamie Trump (73), Ben Freeman (53) and Wayne Branton (59) all crafted half-century plus breaks, too.
Finalists James Height and Andy Symons with WEBSF sponsor Jamie Trump (middle)
In the knockouts, Symons constructed a run of 61 as he eliminated Peasland 2-0; Lee (62 break) defeated Pinhey by the same scoreline. Deciding frames were required as Mears and Height saw off Neck and Batten respectively.
Symons (64 clearance) ended the hopes of Mears 2-0 in an exciting semi-final – a result that could have a big bearing on the overall rankings at the end of the campaign – while Height denied Lee consecutive gold event final appearances, 2-0, in the other last four tie.
For the second time in the tournament, Symons would face Height, but this time it was for the title. Again, it was Symons coming out on top, this time with a 2-0 result and the help of a 60 break.
Considering the personal tragedy that Symons has endured over recent weeks, this is an astonishing triumph and performance in which he dropped just two frames throughout the entire day.
Symons’ victory sees him move up into first place on the rankings list as he seeks a maiden overall Gold Series title. Mears – also looking for the same accomplishment – trails by just six points, though. In what is sure to be a thrilling climax to the season at Top Q in Gloucester on Saturday 7th March, third placed Lee is also in contention for the accolade.
WEBSF 