Title-winning darts star to play in exciting online amateur snooker tournament

The brainchild of sports event supremo and World Seniors Snooker Tour boss Jason Francis, this new tournament is a follow-up from the very popular Snooker Legends 900 concept that ran for two seasons between 2022-2023 and was live televised across several weeks on Sporty Stuff TV.

That event provided sizeable prize money, television coverage, and playing opportunities for amateur cueists from across the UK and far beyond. The roster for both stagings was an eclectic mix of up-and-coming hopefuls, top second tier exponents, and former professional players such as Dennis Taylor, Tony Knowles and Nigel Bond.

2014 English Amateur Snooker Championship runner-up Anthony Parsons won the inaugural 900 edition in 2022 while Hayden Staniland - European Under-21 Snooker Championship runner-up in 2020 - claimed the second installment in November 2023.

Unfortunately, Sporty Stuff TV - the main source of the prize money on offer at the aforementioned Snooker Legends 900 showpieces - has since come off air. Whilst that was a big blow considering the success and genuine enthusiasm the events generated, Francis has remained determined to bring back the formula, and the new ‘Club Challenge’ element has been born.

Starting on February 26th, 64 amateur players will feature across nine consecutive Wednesday nights in a purpose-built playing arena at Francis' club in Reading, with livestream coverage, commentary and analysis on Ayozat.

What is the 900 Snooker Legends Club Challenge format?

Each week, eight players will line-up for a one-frame knockout competition - all played on one table. Whilst matches are just the one frame, there is a time limit of 15 minutes (900 seconds, hence the tournament name). Should the frame not be naturally completed during that time, whichever player is leading in points when the match-clock expires is the winner of the frame. As well as the 15-minute match-clock, there is also a shot-clock to keep all the players on their toes.

Due to this timed element - similar to the Snooker Shoot Out seen on the professional tour - there are different strategies to be considered compared to traditional matchplay snooker, with those in front often electing to defend their lead and run the clock down.

The eight weekly winners will then congregate for Finals Night - scheduled for April 23rd - where another knockout event takes place to crown the overall champion.

The title winner will collect a minimum of £1,000, with monetary prizes also going to runner-up and semi-finalists, as well as all the 'regular' weekly winners leading up to the finals.

Who is playing in the 900 Snooker Legends Club Challenge?

The identities of some of the players participating in the 900 Snooker Legends Club Challenge have started to be announced on the Snooker Legends Facebook page.

1985 World Champion Taylor is set to play in week one of the competition, while former professionals Les Dodd and Billy Castle, 2018 World Seniors Snooker Champion Aaron Canavan, and Staniland have also accepted invitations.

One of the most eye-catching entrants is Richie 'The Owl' Howson - a former professional darts player on the PDC circuit, who in recent years has been making big waves on the World Seniors Darts Tour.

A runner-up in three big televised Seniors events in the past - including the World Championship - Howson got his hands on silverware in 2024 when he defeated Anthony Hamilton 13-10 in the final on BBC Sport to win the Champion of Champions at the Viva Blackpool. Earlier this year, Howson also won the online Modus Super Series Legends League.

As well as being expertly adept to using tungsten, Howson is a keen and very capable snooker player.

Although he didn't get through, Howson previously tried to qualify for the original 900 Series, but he will now get his chance in the main draw alongside some of snooker’s top amateur players as he helps break off proceedings in the opening week after being invited.