Steven Hallworth gained the 2024 English Novice Championship on Sunday on the Landywood Snooker Membership in Walsall.
The Lincoln lad emerged because the victor from an in depth ultimate with Callum Downing that ended 6-4.
The English Novice Championship is snooker’s oldest and longest-running event, relationship again to its inaugural staging in 1916.
Former champions embrace the likes of Ray Reardon, Jimmy White, Stuart Bingham, and Jack Lisowski.
The event has typically acted as a springboard for gamers based mostly in England to go on and luxuriate in additional success on the World Snooker Tour.
The 2012 English Novice Championship ultimate was contested between Gary Wilson and Martin O’Donnell, who final month met once more as professionals within the ultimate of the Welsh Open.
Hallworth had been the pre-tournament favorite with on-line bookie bet365, and he lived as much as that tag.
The 28 year-old was concerned in a number of nail-biting affairs although, needing to come back by way of two deciding-frame thrillers within the early rounds of the ultimate weekend.
A 4-3 conquer Vladislav Gradinari within the final 16 was adopted by a 5-4 success in opposition to Craig Steadman the place he wanted the final three frames to advance.
Issues had been extra easy within the semi-finals, Hallworth thrashing Nathan Jones with a whitewash show.
Within the ultimate, he confronted an opponent in Downing who had already dispatched of reigning champion Paul Deaville within the preliminary levels.
Within the final 4, Downing additionally secured a standout victory over veteran Nigel Bond, the 1989 English newbie champion.
The showdown for the silverware proved to be a nip and tuck battle, with Downing repeatedly clawing again deficits to revive parity.
At 4-4 the title was up for grabs, however Hallworth pulled away on the essential second by profitable the final two frames.
“It means the world to carry this title,” a delighted Steven Hallworth advised the EPSB after his win.
“The historical past and status connected to it’s one thing else. The names on the trophy are unbelievable and now mine will probably be on it.”
“It’s not fairly often as snooker gamers we go away an occasion with a smile in your face. Should you can’t have a good time the wins after they come then what are you enjoying for.
“I used to be buzzing to strap that trophy into the passenger seat of my automobile final evening and drive house, I’m completely made up.
“I wasn’t too proud of my sport earlier than the occasion, I’d simply hit it exhausting in Benidorm for my stag do with mates from my village, plus fellow gamers Oliver Brown, Sanderson Lam and Oliver Strains.
“Oli Strains would be the loss of life of me. I like these boys to bits and we had a good time.
“Once we bought again I used to be commentating on the Championship League so hadn’t actually practiced, however I used to be contemporary for the occasion and fought actually exhausting all weekend which was so, so pleasing.
“All my focus now could be for Bosnia and the WPBSA Q Tour World Playoffs subsequent week.
“I’m assured and no one will wish to draw me so hopefully I can get the job achieved on the market and are available again with a tour card.
“The week after I then get married so what a month this might grow to be
“Large shout to my sponsors Jim Smith of J S Tailoring Lincoln and my title sponsor T R Weston & Son LTD metal fabricators in Lincoln.
“Glynn & Claire Weston have been life lengthy household associates and have sponsored me for the previous few seasons.
“To have them there yesterday see me carry the trophy made all of it value whereas.
“Win or lose they wish to be there to help me and to have them by my aspect for the pictures with the trophy truthfully meant all the pieces to me.
“Gamers generally, not simply myself, respect the help of individuals and firms such as you wouldn’t consider.
“It’s this help that enables us to do what we love and hopefully at some point have moments like yesterday. I owe an terrible lot to them and to everybody that has supported me beforehand.”
After capturing essentially the most prestigious title of his profession, the Englishman will subsequent be hoping to reclaim a spot on the principle tour as an expert participant.
Hallworth may have a possibility to try this by way of the Q Tour when he competes within the upcoming World Play-offs, with three most important tour spots in Sarajevo up for grabs.
2024 English Novice Championship
Remaining Weekend Outcomes
Final 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
Remaining
Steven Hallworth 6-4 Callum Downing
Featured picture credit score: EPSB
