Former main tour professionals Chris Melling of Keighley and Jason Walton of Bingley can look forward to a big night after reaching the final of the T&A Snooker Knockout at Cue Gardens.

Their prize is to play a frame against Mark Williams and John Parrott at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre on February 23 in the T&A Snooker Classic.

Melling ultimately won the final 3-0 and has chosen to play against Parrott, while Walton will take on Williams.

Both players were solid throughout the day, with two-time world pool champion Melling beating Joe Jagger, Dan Farmer, Mick Bedford and Chris Metcalfe on the way to the final, making ten breaks over 60 in the 12 frames he played.

Walton was also consistent in defeating Matthew Bucham, Lee Atkinson and Darrell Kay, with a 77 break seeing him over the line against Sajid Khan.

There was at least some consolation for Khan as he made the day's highest break of 106, narrowly missing the blue with 138 on the table.

Tickets at £12 are still available for the T&A Classic (7.30pm start) either from the T&A front office or on 01274-705289 between 9.30am and 5pm (Monday to Friday).

  • Mark Slater had a productive week in the Bradford Snooker Championships, beating Paul Jackson of Denholme Conservative Club 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals in the singles.
  • Along with partner Jason Murgatroyd, the 2006 pairs winners from Great Horton Conservative Club also won 3-0 against Paul Young and Steve Moore (Eccleshill Victoria Conservative Club), the highlight being a 66 break by Slater.

There was a 3-0 victory for Eddie Ratcliffe and Paul Storey (East Ward Labour Club) against David and Chris Tolson (Cuedos Snooker Club).

The deadline for these Championships is this Saturday.

  • The Yorkshire Individual Snooker Championship gets underway on Sunday at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds (10am start).
  • Last year's runner-up Simon Bedford takes on L Thewlis in his first match, with Bradford team-mates Slater and Khan also in action against M Finnigan and B Pritchard respectively. Bingley's Michael Sharp is playing M Morgan.

Current holder Wayne Cooper, together with Walton, Atkinson, Hanif Rafiq and Chris Sneddon, play on February 17.

The Yorkshire under-19 tournament takes place on Saturday, February 16, also at the Northern Snooker Centre.

Entry can be made on the day before 10.30am. It will be a best of three frames format up to the final, which will then be best of five.

Players must have been no older than 18 as at December 31 last year to be permitted to play. Enquiries can be made to the tournament director Alex Crum on 01132-863615.

  • Bradford's teams are due in action this weekend in the Yorkshire Inter-District League.
  • Bradford No2 are scheduled to be at home to Thorne at Manningham Ward on Sunday and the billiards side also host Thorne on the same day at Cullingworth Conservative Club.

With commitments in the Yorkshire Championships, the Bradford No1 snooker side will play the following weekend.

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