Bermuda buzzing with renewed snooker interest as island hosts star names and international tournament

A British overseas territory that is just 20 miles long, Bermuda has a history of welcoming star snooker names to the island.

Joe Davis, John Spencer, Cliff Thorburn and Alison Fisher have all performed there before, and only last month three-time World Champion Mark Williams - fresh from his latest Crucible final appearance - added his name to that esteemed list when he played several local players in an exhibition there.

The Welshman - who was accompanied by friend, coach and fellow former World Seniors Snooker Champion Lee Walker - created history by compiling not one, but two maximum 147 breaks during the show. These are understood to be the first maximums ever completed in Bermuda.

President of the Bermuda Snooker Association Paul Fedden was chiefly responsible for organising the exhibition, and he had the best view in the house for the second of Williams’ 147s, as it was made against him.

Speaking with Totally Snookered, Fedden explained the interesting story of how the exhibition was arranged: “The exhibition came about after I met Lee Walker at the 900 snooker event in the UK in 2023.

“I was invited to take part (in the 900) by Jason Francis, who I had met and become friends with in 2019 at the World Seniors Snooker Tour event in Houston, Texas. As the top Bermudian player for a few years at that time, Jason asked me to represent Bermuda in the 900.

“I got drawn in what became known as the ‘group of death’. Lee Walker was in that group and we organised some coaching for me. We spoke about how good it would be to bring Mark out to Bermuda. At the time, I didn’t know how I would make I happen, but was resolute that I would find a way.

“Eighteen months of hard work ended with an historic exhibition match at the Spanish Point Boat Club on Sunday May 25th.”

There is genuine snooker heritage in Bermuda, as Fedden - who is friends with Canada’s Cliff Thorburn - listed the world champions who have visited the island and performed there in the past.

Interest in the sport declined, however, since taking up his head role with the island’s snooker association a few years ago, Fedden is already coming good on his ambitions to reignite Bermuda’s passion for snooker.

“Snooker used to be huge in Bermuda. There were lots of places with tables years ago - with more than one table” said Fedden.

“I took over as President of the Bermuda Snooker Association in 2022 and was determined to bring snooker back to the forefront in Bermuda.

“And so, the plan was hatched. I am also a director of the ISL (International Snooker League), an organisation formed in Bermuda, after a challenge match between the old Colony Club of Bermuda and New York Athletic Club of Manhattan.

“So successful was the challenge match, that in 1974, the ISL was born, with help from the late, great Ray Reardon and Connie Falkiewicz.

“Fifty years on, we are still here and are global! The ISL holds two tournaments per year - a spring tournament and a fall tournament. The Spring tournament is held every May and is hosted in rotation by member nations, including Bermuda, USA, Canada, Ireland, England, and others.

“I knew my turn to host the ISL Spring tournament was coming up in May 2025 and set about trying to marry the Mark Williams exhibition plan with it. After 18 months of planning, a ton of hard work, and much fund raising, myself and a team of dedicated individuals pulled it off. Nobody could have imagined we would see two 147s on Bermudian soil!”

Being in such a remote and small location, running snooker activities on the island is a difficult task.

Fedden explained that no clubs in Bermuda currently have more than one table, and as there are no table fitters or equipment suppliers on the island, therefore everything has to be flown in.

However, those obstacles do not deter Fedden and his team who oversee the island league that operates there, and other big events.

“My goal was to restore the game on the island. We have a local league that has been going for about 80 years and I wanted to breathe new life into the game here and bring it back into the primetime, which I think I’ve achieved” Fedden said.

“We also hold three major tournaments per year: The Tony DeSilva Memorial Cup Handicap, The Bermuda Open Singles, The Bermuda Open Doubles, as well as three team knockout tournaments.”

A huge thank you to Paul Fedden for taking time out to speak with us at Totally Snookered