With no premier league football over the last week or so due to the international break, there isn’t a great deal to report on a local football front this week. England secured automatic qualification to the Euros next year as they beat Italy 3-1 at Wembley on Tuesday night (17/10/23) to book their place next year in Germany, with skipper Harry Kane scoring two goals, sandwiched in between Marcus Rashford’s driving finish, to make it 2-1 to England via one from the penalty-spot on the 32nd minute and a sublime finish in trademark fashion towards the end of the game to comfortably secure qualification!

Snooker loopy for Gone2pot Snooker academy

Gone2pot Snooker has been in the headlines recently and thoroughly deserved through the guidance of world snooker coach John Woods based at The Hurricane Room Kings Cross.

As up and coming junior Rayan El Qmache collected his 1st trophy by winning the plate competition of the Under-21 Gold, Silver and Bronze Tours at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon. As the 10-year-old prodigy beat all comers of more experienced age and competitive match snooker under their belts to seal victory and what I think all of us at The Hurricane Room Kings Cross is the start of something special.

Also Gone2pot Snooker has been heavily represented at The Crucible Reading in the 900 Snooker which is televised on SportyStuff TV on digital and streaming platforms with the very talented and gifted Marcos Dayao (I know first-hand) knocking in what I could only compare to the late, great, Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins clearance against Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White in the world championship semi-final in 1982 as Marcos produced an almost impossible clearance with the balls not in a very favourable position but showed his flare and bottle to knock in the remaining balls for a 54 break to beat the talented Austrian Florian Nüessle in a photo finish in truly spectacular fashion, and although Marcos didn’t quite progress in the latter stages has made himself etched in snooker folklore with that dazzling display.

Also Simon Bubb made his televised debut in Reading but he came up against an opponent in fine form and didn’t really get much of a look in under the pressure of the cauldron that is the match arena but gave a much better account of himself in Tuesday night's (17/10/23) action but unluckily lost in the final seconds to Mary Talbot-Deegan in a real tight frame. He will learn from the experience and I’m confident that he can find his place in the higher echelons of competitive match play snooker.

John Woods has done an excellent job of giving young people a chance at all levels of the game in a friendly but competitive environment and I would recommend Gone2pot Snooker to any local talent or any youngsters out there who want to play or learn the art form of snooker.

Gone2potsnooker is run most Saturdays at The Hurricane Room Kings Cross from around 10am.

Have a great week!