GLOBAL SNOOKER NEWS

New Zealand's Dene O'Kane was crowned the first IBSF World Seniors Champion after a 5-2 win over his old professional adversary, Eugene Hughes, from Ireland.

Forty-nine year old O'Kane, once ranked Number Eighteen in the World Rankings, was thrilled with his win and during an eloquent post match speech praised the host country Holland for their superb organisation of the event. He went on to pay tribute to the sportsmanship and skill of Hughes, who beat him on the only previous occasion they played, the 1992 British Open.

"It's great to be back playing competitive snooker", said the happy Kiwi.

"This has been a superb event and I hope it is only the first of many. It's been great to see so many old friends again and make new ones."

Hughes was the first to give his congratulations to the new champion saying "Dene thoroughly deserved his win. He's played some class snooker right through the event and there wasn't a lot I could do to stop him."

O'Kane reached the final courtesy of a 4-1 win over Australia's Glen Wilkinson in a match that was closely contested in everything but the final score.

On the adjoining table Hughes was pushed right to the very last ball of the match by Finland's Jyri Virtanen, who started the match in great style with a break of 77. He added 37 for a 2-0 lead before Hughes responded with 44 and a colours clearance to draw level. They shared the next two frames and went ball for ball through the final frame until Virtanen had first shot at the black, which he attempted to double. He left a long shot, which Hughes coolly despatched to a distant pocket.

O'Kane got off to the best possible start in the final, running in breaks of 40 and 55 to keep the Irishman cold in his chair. Hughes won a tactical second on the pink, but soon found himself 3-1 adrift as O'Kane rattled in further breaks of 76 and 87.

Hughes dominated the fifth frame but O'Kane broke the shackles in the sixth, a late run of 38 securing the frame. The Kiwi opened the seventh with a superb 61 which put the result beyond doubt, bar a miracle recovery from Hughes, who tried in vain for snookers but conceded defeat when O'Kane potted the brown.

As well taking home the beautifully crafted trophy and a winner's cheque for 2,900 Euros, O'Kane bagged both his group high break and the tournament high break with a run of 130, and collected an extra 550 Euros.