Snooker: Robertson wins second AG Challenge Championship

Whanganui's defending AG Challenge Champion Paul Briggs in action on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Robertson has now won the AG Challenge Championship tournament representing two towns as the 2016 winner regained the crown from defending champion Paul Briggs at the Wanganui East club on Sunday.

It was an all-Whanganui final in the expanded 20 premier player invitational competition, with Robertson and Briggs contesting the final game after two days of play.

Robertson, who was living in Hamilton when he won the 2016 tournament, beat Briggs 2-1 to keep the title in his adopted home.

The Flight section, which was a best of three frames instead of five, was claimed by Whanganui's Willie Matthews, who won 2-1 against Jack Lemon, the inaugural overall tournament winner in 2015.

In the Plate section, Taranaki's Murray Thompson beat Palmerston North's Chris Kendrick 2-0.

Players were invited from Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Manawatu and Taranaki to take part.

The club's snooker adjunct Peter Bouzaid said they will retain the 20 player format next year, having increased from 16 for this tournament.

Unlike last year, Wanganui East did not use the St John's Club for their plate competition playoffs, but ran everything at home base.

"It was bigger and it flowed quite nicely," Bouzaid said.

"We will move on with it next year – just do some internal tweaks."