News

It is that time of year again as another European Snooker season draws to a close and we fondly remember 2024 which was yet another great year for the European Snooker family and we embrace the coming year with so much to look forward to.

2024 saw the European Billiards and Snooker Association travel to Bosnia/Herzegovina for the first time in Sarajevo and a fond return to Albufeira in Portugal.

Sarajevo saw some fantastic snooker last March where a rising young talent Robbie McGuigan from Northern Ireland who stole the show winning his last five matches including the final against England’s Craig Steadman in the Final won on a deciding frame. McGuigan now contests on the Main Tour.

There were fantastic Under Age events in Sarajevo too, with the pride of Wales Liam Davies capturing a WST Main Tour Ticket in the European U21 Championship.

The Under 18 Championship went to yet another current WST Main Tour player Bulscu Revesz from Hungary who played impeccable snooker only dropping one frame in the knockout series to win yet another European Title.

The Under 16 European Title went to Moldova for the first time when Vladislav Gradinari saw off the Welsh challenge of Riley Powell to win the event, showing he is a real player for the future.

The EBSA were also delighted to work alongside World Snooker in Sarajevo with the finals of Q-Tour at the event, where the mix of top class amateurs offered up a fantastic addition to the trip to Bosnia/Herzegovina.

The EBSA again want to that the Bosnian/Herzegovina Association for their fantastic support in hosting this European Championship.

In October the EBSA returned to Portugal. This was another fantastic event, with massive success for English snooker in the Senior Men’s singles and Doubles and the English Women’s event where England had a clean sweep.

Portugal also saw a couple of First’s in the 6 Reds and in the Shootout.

Also Portugal saw the EBSA host the very first European Disability Snooker Championships with the assistance of the WDBS.

Craig Steadman wiped away the disappointment of Sarajevo with a stunning tournament in Sarajevo winning the Senior European Snooker Title.

Steadman Doubled up in the European Scotch Doubles event with fellow Englishman Lee Stevens defeating Sean Gray and Anto Heaney from Northern Ireland in a very enjoyable final.

The Women’s Championship was dominated by England’s Rebecca Kenna who played brilliant Snooker only dropping one frame in the knockout series and completely dominating the event for a first European Title.

Rebecca teamed up with Tessa Davidson to secure the Women Team event with a victory over the brilliant Portuguese Team of Vania Franco and Sara Rocha.

The Men’s European Championship saw Ukrainian success for Denys Khmelevskyi and Iulian Boiko who won a very tight final over Malta’s Aaron Busuttil and Chris Peplow.

Boiko doubled up in the EBSA Shootout retaining the title which was a first in the event.

Austria’s Florian Nüßle won his first European Title in Portugal with success in the 6-Reds event. The man from Graz has been knocking on the door for a while now and made his breakthrough in Albufeira.

Again the EBSA would like to sincerely thank the Portuguese Federation for hosting a truly brilliant European Championships.

What a year for Snooker.

As always this time of year can be tough for people with the passing of loved ones and this year Snooker lost a legend with the sad passing of Terry Griffiths OBE. The 1978 World Champion was a person who just lived and breathed Snooker and along with his fantastic game, his coaching skills and most importantly his gentleman persona both off and on the green baize will be remembered for ever and he will be sadly missed by everyone in the game.

We also recently lost a great character of the game and a great Referee Ger Murray from the Republic of Ireland. A former Chairman of the Republic of Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association. We want to offer our condolences to anyone may have lost loved ones this year, our thoughts are with you at this time.

Thank you’s.

Were do I begin! Thank you to our fantastic sponsors, Rasson Billiards, SnookerOn, Aramith, Strachan 6811 and Little Monster for their magnificent support.

My thanks to all the Referee’s throughout 2024, to PJ Nolan our EBSA Head Coach, to Mr Jason Ferguson and everyone at World Snooker and last but by no means least the EBSA Board Members and our Tournament Team for all the dedication and hard work they put in every year and of course the Players.

It really was another fantastic year for the European Snooker Family and I look forward to March when we all will get together again in Turkey.

Finally I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and successful New Year.

Yours in Sport

Maxime Cassis

EBSA President