Billiards enthusiasts from across the West of England gathered at Frames Snooker Centre to compete in the inaugural Ticer Memorial Billiards Tournament.

The tournament in Weston-Super-Mare was named after and dedicated to local player Wayne Ticer and aimed to raise funds for charity.

Strongly remembered for his never-say-die attitude and love for billiards, Wayne Ticer bravely battled cancer for several years beyond his initial prognosis.

Wayne, who was known for his shiny patent shoes and vibrant waistcoats when playing, was memorialised as attendees paid tribute wearing colourful outfits.

The fundraising activities included a raffle, an auction, and the sale of gifts received from players, officials, and supporters.

With additional donations and a percentage of the tournament entry fees adding to the pot, an estimated total of around £500 was raised.

Wendy Ticer will present the total amount to Weston Hospice Care in due course.

The event was deemed a success, sparking optimism for it to become an annual fixture.

The competition fielded nineteen players, seven of whom feature in the World Billiards ranking list.

The format comprised a group stage, followed by a qualifying and plate knock-out stage of timed games.

Group A was dominated by Matt Spade who earned his spot in the main quarterfinal knock-out.

Chris Coumbe, the highest World Billiards-ranked player in the field, secured the second qualifying place, while Bristol player Naufer Saleem took third place.

In Group B, Mike Allen won the group without defeat, advancing into the main knock-out quarter-finals.

Chris Mitchell, with only one loss to his name, took the second main qualifying place.

Group C was won by Steve Brookshaw, and the second place was grabbed by Roy Jenkins.

In Group D, with only three participants, Michael White triumphed, winning all three games, followed by Graham Riley who took the second place.

In the first main event quarter-final, Jenkins progressed into the semi-final, narrowly defeating Matt Spade by a single point, 86-85.

Allen bested Riley in the second quarter-final match,154-135.

The last quarter-final saw Mitchell defeat White (193-121).

In the semi-final, Jenkins saw his journey end as Allen delivered an impressive win, 160-89.

Coumbe defeated fellow high-ranked World Billiards player, Mitchell, 175-162.

The final pitted the top-ranked Coumbe against the poised unranked player, Allen.

Coumbe's consistency saw him clinch the inaugural Cup, with a 287-61 victory.

Weston Mercury: 2024 Ticer Memorial Cup Champion Chris Coumbe, presented by Wendy Ticer2024 Ticer Memorial Cup Champion Chris Coumbe, presented by Wendy Ticer (Image: Frames Snooker Centre)

Parallel to the main event, the plate preliminaries saw Derek Ellis, Martyn Howell, Russell Ticer, and Dave White advance to the quarter-finals.

The plate finals saw a close match between Saleem and Simon Brooks, finishing 89-80 in Brooks' favour.

The tournament concluded with Wendy Ticer presenting the Ticer Memorial Cup to champion Chris Coumbe, marking a successful, memorable event fuelled with top-tier performances, camaraderie, and philanthropy.