Wallace Wins Again in Northern Ireland

Patrick Wallace secured a record-extending eighth Northern Irish National Snooker Championship title after a high-quality 10-8 victory over Jordan Brown in last month’s final.

Following completion of the early rounds, the final eight in this year’s competition congregated at Pot Black Snooker in Cookstown for the conclusion during the Northern Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association’s (NIBSA) Finals Weekend.

Having dropped only a frame in his earlier matches, Wallace ousted Alistair Wilson 5-4 and Darren Dornan 6-3 in the last eight and four respectively to set up a rerun of the 2015 title decider against Brown. The final would be a game of two halves.

Wallace took the opening frame with a contribution of 61, but efforts of 67, 60, 80 and 57 helped Brown establish a 6-3 lead at the end of the first session. However, on resumption, the Dungannon cueist made breaks of 78, 94 and 69 in taking an 8-7 advantage.

Brown levelled up at 8-8, but former Crucible quarter-finalist Wallace responded to the pressure, finishing in style with runs of 89 and 107.

Already the record holder for most wins, this was the fifth consecutive year that Wallace went home with the trophy.

Written and published by Michael Day on the 10th May 2016.