ENGLISH ASSOCIATION for SNOOKER & BILLIARDS

2005-6 ENGLISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The English Open Championship is initially played on a regional basis, before final North and South play offs to produce the traditional North v South final, which is played as part of the EASB Grand Finals weekend in May 2006.

The are eight regional venues used, with the number of qualifiers from each, based proportionally on the numbers of entrants received from each region.

These eight regions will produce sixteen qualifiers each from North and South, who progress to the next stage of the event, which will be played on 6 May 2006, with the final being played at the prestigious RAC Club in London on 27-28 May 2006

Walsall's Mark Joyce is the defending English Open Champion.

He will start his 2006 campaign in the West Midlands regional qualifier at Reardon's Club in Stoke-on-Trent. Joyce will find himself going head to head against local rivals, including the 2004 Baltic Champion Daniel Ward and seasoned England International player Eddie Cooper.

The 2005 finalist Andy Lee, looking to go one better this season, sets out in the East Midlands region, at Potters Snooker Bar in Coalville, under the watchful eye of Tournament Director Malcolm Thorne.

Also lining up at Coalville is former English Amateur finalist Ben Woollaston and the 2003 European Under 19 Champion Jamie O'Neill.

The 2001 finalist Kurt Maflin, who now runs a snooker club in Norway, returns to his home base to compete in the London & South East region and he'll be accompanied by Norway's Lady Champion Anita Rizutti, who competes in the same area.

Last season's English Amateur runner up Andy Symons-Rowe leads the field in the South West, starting out with a match against Neil Craycraft. Stiff opposition will be provided by the likes of Ben Hancorn, Adam Wicheard, Nathan Williams and the young brigade including Matt Williams, Kris Vincent and Scott Bullied.

Former professional Graham Cripsey, known best as a "Wall of Death" rider, returns to Amateur competition in the East region at Newmarket. Fifty year old Cripsey was professional from 1982 to 1996, reaching a best ranking of 48. His best result was when he reached the last 16 of the Grand Prix in 1987. He also holds a place in the record books, along with Sean Storey. The pair racked up the highest aggregate points, 185, during a qualifying round in the 1992 Asian Open. Storey stole the frame 93-92.

Dean Reynolds, the former World No. 8 from Grimsby, joins the fray in a tough draw in the Yorkshire region. Peter Lines, winner of the first two National Tour events is also in the Harrogate line up as is English Amateur Champion David Grace.

ENGLISH OPEN ROLL OF HONOUR