The Richler Cup: 20,000 Guaranteed Snooker Tournament

Alain Robidoux

We are just a few short weeks away from one of the most anticipated events of the year, the $20,000 guaranteed Richler Cup. This is in honor of world famous author Mordecai Richler. When he wasn't writing novels like Barney's Version or The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Richler was a snooker fanatic and avid player before his passing in 2001, . This event will take place at Le Skratch West Island April 24-27.

Rotation games like 9/10 ball are the more common games played here in North America. However throughout Europe and many parts of the rest of the world, snooker is the dominate cue sport. Patrick Guigui from Snooker Canada who is putting on this event plans to reignite Canadian interest in Snooker back to the heights when Canadian Cliff Thorburn was the World Champion.

This is an open event that welcomes anyone, there was also qualifiers held all over the country including Vancouver, Quebec and Toronto so the best of the best will be in attendance. Big names like Alain Robidoux and Bob Chaperon along with reigning Canadian 9 ball champion John Morra will be there taking their shot at the large prize pool.

Guigui has added 4 more Shender tables to make 5 total and there will be a seating area which can hold up to 100 people at any given time. Weekend passes are available for ten dollars with proceeds going to local charities. More information on the tournament and sponsors can be found at the Snooker Canada Website. This is just the inaugural event for the Richler Cup which Guigui hopes to make bigger each year. Special guest will include former Montreal Canadiens Chris "Knuckles" Nilan and one of Mordecai's sons will be flying in from England to present the trophy to the winner.

John Morra