Norris Wins 2026 Asia-Pacific Snooker Championship
Paul Norris defeated Vinnie Calabrese 6-5 in the final of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Snooker Championship.
The 59-year-old, who is originally from England, came through a strong field at the four-day competition to win his maiden continental crown on Sunday.
The event, organised by the Asia-Pacific Snooker and Billiards Federation (APSBF), is a direct pathway to the World Snooker Tour (WST) and saw 67 players completing for glory at the Commercial Club in Albury, Australia.
Norris made a strong start by coming through his group with a clean sweep of victories over Zaq Qureshi (2-1), Lilly Meldrum (2-1) and Ankit Man Shrestha (3-0) to reach the knockout rounds.
The Englishman then dropped just three frames in as many matches to reach the last four and he last overcame Australia’s Sean Dempsey 4-1 to book his place in the concluding day.
Sixteen-year-old Lomnaw Issarangkun Na Ayuttaya awaited Norris in the semi-finals and the Thai teenager led on three separate occasions before succumbing to the more experienced cueist in the ninth and deciding frame.
Calabrese, the top ranked player on the WPBSA Q Tour Asia-Pacific ranking list for the last three seasons, was his title match opponent after beating former professional Ryan Thomerson 5-2 to reach this stage.
The Australian started strongly with a break of 84 to take the opener and later moved 4-2 ahead in a race to six courtesy of his second half-century of the final.
Norris battled on, however, winning three of the next four frames to force his second decider of the day and he again held his nerve to get over the line and complete a memorable victory.