Australian Billiards & Snooker Council

News

Aaron Mahoney Wins Australian Open Snooker
16 Nov 2003

Aaron Mahoney of Victoria is the new Australian Open Snooker Champion, defeating Johl Younger in the final 8-6, held at the Mounties club in Sydney on 16 November. The tournament also encompassed the Oceania Snooker Championship, which means Aaron also becomes the Oceania champion.

Both Aaron and Johl were relatively untroubled on their way to the semi finals, but they were forced to produce their best snooker to make the final. Johl Younger led Stuart Lawler 4-0, before Stuart hit back with the tournament high break of 141. Johl won the next frame to lead 5-1, then Stuart fought back to 5-4. Johl then clinched the next frame to win 6-4.

Aaron's semi final against Joe Minici went down to the wire, almost alternating frames until Aaron edged ahead to 5-3. Joe brought the score back to 5-5 before Aaron sealed the game with two solid breaks.

The stage was set for the final, refereed by Forbes Davies of Queensland. There were shades of the 2002 final in which Neil Robertson whitewashed Steve Mifsud 8-0, when Aaron Mahoney took the first three frames. Johl Younger hit back with a break of 77 to indicate that there would be no repeat of last year. Aaron consolidated to 5-2, before Johl staged a spirited comeback - at 5-3 and needing two snookers on the blue, Johl weaved some magic to snatch the frame, then went on to lead 6-5. Aaron then recovered to win the next two frames, needing just one more for victory.

The fourteenth frame was a see-sawing battle, with Johl taking the early lead before Aaron came back with what looked to be a match winning break. Needing just the brown to make the frame safe, Aaron appeared to feel the pressure and missed a relatively easy pot. Johl took the brown and blue, but failed to gain position on the pink which Aaron took to leave the score at 52-52 on the black. The tension in the air was mounting as both players missed difficult chances to take the frame, until Aaron sealed the win to take the championship.

Aaron will now return to the UK later this month to compete in the next Challenge Tour event, while Johl will rejoin the Main Tour where he was the best performing newcomer in 2002-03.

The final was also graced by the presence of Bob Hawke AC, the patron of the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council, who was bestowed the honour of Life Member. Aaron Mahoney (right) and Johl Younger (left) are pictured with Bob Hawke above.