The World Amateur Championship is much younger than its professional counterpart with the first event not being held until 1963 although individual countries had been holding their own championships for many years. The English Amateur for example, began way back in 1916.

Only five players contested the first championship, in Calcutta, which was played on a round robin basis and Gary Owen of Wales won all four of his matches to take the title. The next event was held in 1966 in Karachi with Owen successfully defending the title. It was then held every other year, alternating with the Billiards Championship, until it became an annual event in 1985.

In 1966 there were still only six entrants but by 1968 this had risen to ten who were split into two groups with the top two going into the semi-finals. By 1972 there were enough players for four groups with the top two from each going forward to two further groups before knockout semi-finals as before. Over the years the numbers have increased to the present level of eight groups of up to eleven players in each from which four from each group go into a 32-player knockout stage.

Many former winners have gone on to do well in the professional game such as David Taylor, Jimmy White, Doug Mountjoy, James Wattana and, more recently, Marco Fu but only champion has gone on to add the World Professional title and that was Ken Doherty, who won in 1989 and was, of course, Embassy champion in 1997.

Originally the event was organised by the Billiards Association but since 1974 it has been the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) who now control the non-professional game worldwide, who promote it. Since then it has been officially known as the IBSF World Snooker Championship although most people continued to call in the “World Amateur” and many still do. When the professional game was opened up to anyone who could pay the entry fee in the early 1990s, lower ranked professionals were allowed to enter this and the other former amateur only events.

The 2001event, which was due to be held in Egypt, was cancelled due to the war in Afghanistan. The 2005 championship was also cancelled, this time due to an earthquake which occurred in Pakistan where the event was due to be held. 

Roll Of Honour

 #Decided on a round robin basis

back to top

IBSF World Team Cup

 This event, for teams of three, was first held in September 2006. England were the winners on that occasion but it has not been held since.

Roll Of Honour

back to top

EBSA European Championship

 This event is run by the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA) and began in 1988 in Holland but was then not held again until 1993 since when it has taken place annually. Similar qualification rules apply as for the IBSF events and these are somewhat loosely interpreted allowing some players take part event though they are ranked as high as the top 64 in the professional rankings in some cases.

Roll of Honour

back to top

EBSA European Junior Championship (Under-19 to 2010; Under-21 from 2011)

This event was added to the calendar in 1997 with the first event being held in Jersey. Ian Preece who won in 1998 and was runner-up the following year is the only winner who has so far progressed to better things having won the IBSF World Championship in 1999 and gone on to the Main Tour although Michael Holt, runner-up in 1997, has also done quite well on the professional circuit having risen to 29th in the world rankings. In 2009 Belgium's Luca Brecel, at just 14 years and 18 days became the youngest ever winner of the event. From 2011 the age restriction was raised to Under-21 to conform with the other major junior championships.

Roll Of Honour

back to top

EBSA European Team Championship

*Continental Team Cup

back to top

Roll of Honour

ACBS Asian Championship

This event is run by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports and began in 1984. In recent years the winner has been offered a place on the main World Snooker ranking tour.

Roll of Honour

 ¹ = Information not available

back to top

ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship

Also run by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports this event began in 1993 but was not held from 1995 to 2000. Like the senior event  the winner now receives place on the main World Snooker ranking tour.

Roll of Honour

I do not have complete records of this event which is not on the same scale as the other continetal championships with just Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific island nations taking part. It is included as the winner does now receive a nomination to join the professional tour

Roll of Honour

English Amateur Championship