The Amateur Angle - Sanchez Ruiz's Spanish Success

THE AMATEUR ANGLE - SANCHEZ RUIZ'S SPANISH SUCCESS

Francisco Sanchez Ruiz won the 2018 Spanish National Snooker Championship this weekend.

Competing players traveled to the Club Billar Valencia Snooker venue for this three day event that featured a double elimination qualifying format for the quarter-final knockouts.

Sanchez Ruiz, perhaps better known for his achievements on the pool table, emerged from the losers' section after a defeat against Aleix Melia in the winners' qualification round.

Having defeated Oliver Rodriguez to secure his knockouts berth, Sanchez Ruiz eliminated World Cup of 9-Ball Pool Spanish teammate and 2017 World Pool Masters Champion David Alcaide 4-2 in the last 8.

He repeated that scoreline over Daan Leyssen in the semi-finals and then gained revenge for his earlier loss when getting the better of Melia, 5-2, in the final.

26-year-old Sanchez Ruiz claimed the title, trophy and an invitation to the 2019 European Amateur Snooker Championships.

2018 Spanish National Snooker Championship

Results (from the Quarter-Finals onwards)

Undefeated players on the left hand side

Daan Leyssen 4-2 F. Ridriguez

David Alcaide 2-4 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz

Aleix Melia 4-1 Joaquin Marin

Diego Rey 4-2 Juan Gasques

Semi-Finals

Leyssen 2-4 Sanchez Ruiz

Melia 4-1 Rey

Final