Newport's Darren Thompson swept to victory in the Welsh European qualifying event finals in Ammanford and will be Wales' number one challenger in the 2004 EBSA European Championships, being held in Austria in May.

Thompson, who will be accompanied by runner up, Swansea's Marcel Price, will have a lot to live up to. Wales, in the guise of David John, have won the event for the past two years, and in 2003 provided both finalists, as Andrew Pagett was runner up to John.

David John has been invited back by the organisers to defend his title, which gives Wales an extra player and they'll also have an extra player in the Seniors (Over 40s) event as Ron Jones is the current champion.

Thompson, who recently knocked in his first match 147, was thrilled with his win. "I've put a lot of work in lately on my game, and I've proved to myself what I can achieve.

"Even though I knew I'd qualified when I reached the final, I was still determined to win the event and I was solid in the final and didn't give Marcel any chances.

"It was a great honour for me to represent Wales in the Home Internationals in 2002 and I'm really looking forward to Austria. My family are already planning to travel out to support me and the rest of the Welsh squad."

The final was one way traffic as Thompson cantered to a 3-0 win, restricting Price to just 39 points in three frames.

Price achieved the shock of the day, knocking out high flying Gavin Pantall 3-0 in the quarter finals.

Pantall had stormed through the qualifying rounds, without dropping a frame, compiling breaks of 50 twice in round one, 80 in round two, and 70 and a 103 clearance, the event highest, in round three.

Swansea's Mark Tucker thumped Wrexham's Gareth Coppack 3-1 in their quarter, smacking in breaks of 46, 51 and 56.

Bridgend's Matthew Farrant put paid to North Wales' other contender, Ian Wyn Jones, who reached his first Welsh ranking quarter final.

Thompson ended Farrant's hopes of a trip to Austria, compiling breaks of 64, 37 and 33 in a 3-1 win. Farrant responded with a run of 78.

Earlier Thompson had ended the fine run of sixteen year old Craig Davis. The Cardiff lad was appearing in his first senior quarter final and made breaks of 31 and 35 in his 3-1 defeat, but he couldn't contain the rampant Thompson who harvested breaks of 57, 30, 42 and 52 during the match.

Marcel Price won the all-Swansea semi final, making breaks of 62 and 79 in a 3-1 defeat of Mark Tucker.

RESULTS

Quarter Finals

Marcel Price bt Gavin Pantall 3-0

Mark Tucker bt Gareth Coppack 3-1

Darren Thompson bt Craig Davis 3-1

Matthew Farrant bt Ian Wyn Jones 3-1

Semi Finals

Price bt tucker 3-1

Thompson bt Farrant 3-1

Final

Thompson bt Price 3-0

High Break 101cl Gavin Pantall

RESOURCES

WELSH SNOOKER