Darryl Hill won his third Fowler and Co Champion of Champions snooker title with an 8-4 victory over John Kennish recently.

In doing so, Hill brought an end to Kennish’s hold over this event, which he had won for the last three years.

The 16-player invitational event had seen the two favourites progress to the semi-finals fairly comfortably, Hill coming through his quarter of the draw with a 3-1 win over Jamie Wilson and 3-0 against Peter Crellin.

On his side of the draw, Kennish didn’t drop a single frame as he defeated both Jonny Hogg and Paul Smith.

Sean Corkish was Kennish’s opponent in the first best-of-nine frame semi-final and likewise he hadn’t dropped a frame with wins over Ste MacDonald and Chris Dagnall.

But Kennish was always ahead in the last-four clash and, although Corkish took frame six with a 22 clearance to then win it on a re-spot black, Kennish claimed the frame and match 5-2 in the seventh with a superb 91 break.

Peter Kirkham was the last player to make it into the semi-finals, seeing off Brandon Forrester 3-0 and claiming a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Tom Miller. Unfortunately he later had to withdraw from the event, giving Hill a walkover into the final.

The two-session, best-of-15 final saw Hill away fast with a 54 break in frame one, before Kennish replied with a 42 but missed the final brown and Hill cleared up.

A far-from-straightforward 39 clearance then put Hill two up. Frame three could have gone either way, with the referee having to replace the cueball many times after failed snooker escapes. Kennish eventually took it after 37 minutes on the pink to reduce the arrears.

Hill reclaimed his two- frame advantage in the fourth after obtaining a snooker with only the pink and black on the table.

But Kennish didn’t let that disappointment stop him, taking the next with a 46 clearance, clipping in the final black with the aid of the long rest into the green pocket.

He then levelled the match at three all, comfortably taking the sixth. The final frame of the first session was finely poised at 38 each with three reds left, but it went Hill’s way after a successful double on the black.

Into the evening session with Hill 4-3 up, the first two frames were shared, one-sided affairs, including a 56 break from Kennish. In frame 10, Kennish was still in it after a 38 from Hill but a snooker on the final yellow proved Kennish’s undoing, leaving Hill 6-4 ahead.

Hill then found another gear as a 47 break in frame 11 put him one from victory and he wrapped things up in the next with a very good 60 clearance to run out an 8-4 winner, finally ending his opponent’s 15-match winning streak in the event.

Frame scores (Hill first): 76-44, 44-41, 73-84, 50-46, 57-61, 12-56, 50-44, 69-1, 1-75, 73-41, 74-9 and 86-30.

Congratulations to Hill and also to Kennish who showed that he still has many more titles in him.

Hill wins the first prize of £160, while Kennish claims £70 for the runner-up prize and £50 for his 91 in the last frame of the semi-final, being the highest break of the event.

Isle of Man Billiards and Snooker Association wishes to thank all involved for making the event happen, to all the referees and to Paul Smyth and Ken Kinrade for refereeing the final.

Thanks also go to all at the Cue Zone, to all players who participated, the sponsor Fowler and Co and to Brian Ellis who will provide the trophies which will be awarded at the end-of-season presentation.

All the streamed matches can be watched back on the association’s and the Cue Zone’s Facebook pages.