Monday 25 September 2006
The 2006 Chilli Internet South Pacific Open Snooker kicked of on Saturday the 23rd of September at Club Marconi with a strong field of 57 players including 3 international and 10 interstate players. This event was in its first year thanks to Chilli Internet http://www.chilli.net.au/ and Club Marconi. Other sponsors included http://www.poolcomps.com/ and CL&S.
 The feedback received from players and spectators was that the venue is now one of the best in Australia for hosting a snooker event of this standard. Club Marconi is very supportive of snooker and also hosts the annual NSW State Snooker Championships around March.
The tournament started on Saturday with 57 players and there were a few upsets. Number 16 seed Shawn Budd was defeated by Frank Karaberas. Number 8 seed Keith E Boon (Singapore) was defeated by local Hassan Kerde and eventual winner Paul Balzer defeated number 12 seed Rudy Sulaeman (Vic). Local favourite Roger Farebrother was defeated by Michael Lupton which included the high break of the event of 111. All other seeded players were successful in advancing to Sunday play.
Sunday the 24th started with the round of 16 at 9:00am. Dene O'Kane from NZ (current World Masters Champion and Oceania Champion) had a close match with Frank Karaberas winning 3-2. Hassan Kerde defeated Joe Minici 3-1. Paul Balzer defeated Mathew Bolton (WA) 3-1. Glen Wilkinson had a close win over Michael Lupton 3-2. Steve Mifsud (Vic) defeated Alex Render 3-1. Vinnie Calabrese defeated James Mifsud (Vic) 3-1. Robby Foldvari (2006 Australian National Snooker Champion) defeated Peter Gilchrist (singapore) 3-1. Aaron Mahoney (Vic) defeated Daniel Thorp (Vic) 3-0.
The quarter finals had some major upsets with up and coming Hassan Kerde defeating number 1 seed Dene O'Kane 3-1. Advancing to the semi-finals, this was Hassan's best achievement to date. Paul Balzer defeated in form Glen Wilkinson (7 times NSW Snooker Champion) 3-0. Steve Mifsud defeated Vinnie Calabrese 3-1. Robby Foldvari defeated Aaron Mahoney 3-1.
Prior to the commencement of the semi finals, a trick shot tournament was held which included 10 participants entertaining the crowded room of players and spectators. The footage of the trick shots and the rest of the event will be made available on the http://www.bsansw.com/ website shortly.
 In the first semi final, Paul Balzer was too strong for Hassan Kerde winning the match 3-0 in good time. Again, congratulations to Hassan Kerde as this tournament for him was a huge success. In the other semi final, Steve Mifsud defeated Robby Foldvari 3-0.
The crowd was once again entertained for 30 minutes prior to the final match with a billiards exhibition between current Australian Open Billiards champion Mathew Bolton and ex-World Professional Billiards champion Peter Gilchrist from Singapore.
The final was watched by over 100 people and the atmosphere was fantastic. The match lasted a few hours and went frame for frame. In a best of 7 frame contest, Paul Balzer from Sydney crossed the line winning 4-3.
Paul Balzer has been a top player in NSW for many years and has won numerous open tournaments. He has not won an event for sometime and to come this weekend and take out a national ranking title is a huge achievement. Better luck next time to Steve Mifsud who has won his fair share of tournaments including the 2002 World IBSF Championship. Steve has now passed Aaron Mahoney into the number one ranked position on the Australian ranking list.
Well done also to keith E Boon from Singapore taking out the plate event and winning 3-2 against Fred Borg from Sydney. Alan McCarthy had the highest break in this event with a 76.
A special thanks again to the major sponsor Chilli Internet and Club Marconi for hosting the event. Thank you also to the officials who refereed during the weekend and to Bill Hart, John Morel and Phil Tarrant from the NSW Billiards and Snooker Association who helped out enormously.
I hope to see you all back at this event next year as it will be bigger and better.
Alex Render
Senior Vice President
NSW Billiards & Snooker Association
Click Here For Full Results
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