Desperques could go the ‘Legends’ route
MARTYN DESPERQUES and other top island players have been given ‘food for thought’ and inspiration by Aaron Canavan’s progress through to the World Championships.
The eight-time and current Channel Islands champion Canavan, of Jersey, was crowned Snooker Legends’ World Seniors champion in Scunthorpe on Saturday night, winning £10,000 in the process.
The 42-year-old, who hails from the north-east of England, lifted the title after clawing his way back from a 3-1 frames deficit to level at 3-3 and then win the black-ball shoot-out against Ireland’s Patrick Wallace, a World Championship quarter-finalist in 2003.
Desperques, who has twice led Canavan 4-3 in best-of-nine CI finals, described Canavan’s effort ‘as an amazing performance’.
The Snooker Legends event is open to players over 40 and Desperques said some top island players closing on the landmark have been talking about attempting to qualify for the age-group event.
‘It gives me food for thought for when I get there in seven years’ time,’ said Desperques who, having landed another Guernsey snooker title, is now waiting to see if Canavan will again be his opponent in the CI final at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the car restorer reacted to his triumph by saying: ‘I’m just a club player from Jersey who followed a dream.’
Canavan will now need to win three matches at the World qualifier between 11 and 18 April to get into the televised last 32.
More in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
