Record Breaker Canavan is Channel Islands Champion

Jersey’s Aaron Canavan defeated Martyn Desperques 5-3 to win the Channel Islands Snooker Championship for a record ninth time. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was the first occasion since 2019 that the unique one-off encounter took place; a champion v champion contest which brings together the recent winners of the island titles in Jersey and Guernsey.

Former world seniors snooker champion Canavan continues to dominate the domestic scene in Jersey, lifting the island championship trophy for a record-extending 11th time.

After a 3-1 win over Brett Campbell in his opening match, Canavan didn’t drop another frame as he saw off Matt Cox and Connor Davies both 3-0 before making breaks of 61 and 68 as he defeated Jeremy Gogan 4-0 in the final to retain.

In Guernsey it was also a familiar story as Desperques racked up his 12th island championship, levelling Norman Wale’s all-time record title haul.

Desperques eliminated Shane Le Poidevin 3-0, Dave Gilmour 3-1, Seb Priaulx 3-2 and Roscoe Cloarec 4-1 to set up yet another final with multiple-time former champion Adam Shorto – the latest in a series of big meetings between the two spread over many years.

A repeat of the title match from last year, Desperques defended the title, crafting breaks of 105 and 101 during a 5-2 win.

The two champions met a few weeks later at the First Tower Billiards and Snooker Club in St. Helier – each year the islands take it in turns to host – and it was home player Canavan who would regain the inter-insular championship following a 5-3 victory.

Representing his ninth Channel Islands triumph, Canavan created history as he surpassed Wale’s all-time record of eight. The 46-year-old also has an extraordinary 100% record in the event, winning all nine times he has played in it.

There was a degree of revenge for Desperques a fortnight later as he defeated Canavan 500-345 to win the Channel Islands Billiards Championship for a seventh time. During that victory he made breaks of 113 and 54.

Elsewhere in the region, away side Jersey defeated Guernsey 14-11 to win the Inter-Insular Team Snooker Championship (122 break from Canavan), and Kate Le Gallez beat maiden finalist Annamaria Wilkins 3-0 to claim a fifth consecutive Guernsey Ladies Snooker Championship.

That win saw Le Gallez overtake four-time champion Di Davidson and become the outright record holder.

Article by Michael Day.