Two more snooker players have moved a step closer to taking on Big Break TV star John Virgo in special one-frame challenge matches.

Lee Fairbrother won the latest senior competition qualifiers at Wickford Snooker Club, while the junior event went to Chris Kelly.

Both now go through to the finals on April 30, again being staged at Wickford, with the overall winners of each competition on that date qualifying for a date with former UK champion Virgo at the Evening Echo's big snooker extravaganza on May 6 and 7.

Top of the bill over that weekend will be the final stages of the altodigital. com Premier League Championship, with £50,000 going to the winner from a total fund of well over £120,000.

It's now known who will be battling for that honour after the final qualifying matches were staged at the weekend and the Echo is proud to announce that in action at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, in Eastern Avenue, will be current world champion Stephen Hendry, former holder of that title and the man who started this season as the game's number one, John Higgins, current top ranked star Mark Williams and the greatest natural talent in the world today, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

All four will be in action on May 6 with afternoon and evening sessions deiding who goes through to the final over two sessions on Sunday May 7.

The eventual junior champion will play Virgo on the Sunday afternoon with the frame against the senior winner taking place in the evening.

This week's junior qualifier featured our youngest player yet with eight-year-old Zak Surety thrilling his supporters by putting a break of 16 together.

In the final Chris Kelly pulled off a 3-0 win over Jonathan Boates, who did superbly to get this far as he only took up the sport four months ago and was in his first competition.

Kelly won the Wickford junior qualifier last time and will this time be hoping to go one better and make the big day itself. He had a best break of 33 in the qualifiers.

The senior competition was won by Lee Fairbrother, who beat Anthony Fletcher by coming back from a 2-0 deficit to triumph 3-2.

However, Lee's joy was in stark contrast to the misery of last year's overall senior champion Barry Daines, who was relishing another date with Virgo, who hit him with a century plus break last year.

In the semis he won the first frame before Fairbriother hit back with a best of the day break of 56 to make it 1-1.

It was nip and tuck from there on in but, in the fifth and deciding black ball frame, Daines went in off the black to hand Fairbrother a 3-2 success.

There's still time to enter the competition at junior and senior level with the third and final qualifiers being at the Cue and Rest, Shoebury, on Sunday April 16. Phone Sherriel Berry on 01268 522792 if you want to compete.

For tickets for the big event itself, ring 01268 270027 from 9am - 6.45pm Mondays to Fridays.

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