Top stars take part in in Drumaness Masters

25 November 2020

SOME of snooker’s leading names from the past three decades will be on their way to Drumaness next month.

Former world championship semi-finalist Joe Swail, from Belfast, is just one of the big stars who will competing in the Ballynahinch Motor Factors Drumaness Masters.

The event takes place in the Dan Rice Memorial Hall over December 12-16, with the winner carrying off the Jimmy McGivern Memorial Cup.

Among the other big top players taking part are Dungannon’s Patrick Wallace, a former world championship quarter-finalist, defending champion Alastair Wilson and Declan Lavery who has won the Northern Ireland Open title.

Tournament director Darren Oldroyd says he is delighted such a strong field is set to come to the Drumaness Masters.

He added: “It’s great that we have been able to attract such names to the competition. It’s a really strong field that we are set to bring. Obviously people like Joe Swail and Patrick Wallace are household names.

“Joe is in a position now that he wants as much time as possible on the table, and keen to get as much practice in as he can, so that is one of the reasons why he is attracted to coming.”

The tournament is set to host the top 16 players in Northern Ireland, plus an additional eight wildcard entries.

Darren said the tournament’s venue, the Dan Rice Hall, is one that has drawn praise from players in the past.

He added: “Players do look forward to coming to here. The conditions are excellent. The tables are re-covered every year, we use professional lighting and there is a unique atmosphere in the room. The top players appreciate that.

“We hope we would be able to have some spectators in place who would be socially distanced. That is obviously not something that is completely within our control.”

The tournament is set to be streamed on the Drumaness Snooker Club’s Facebook site.

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