Quality players cue up for challenge

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If you follow snooker on the national scene, you will be impressed by some of the names among the 16 premier players contesting the AG Challenge Championship tournament at the Wanganui East Club this weekend.

Split into four sections of four players, the invitational tournament includes the likes of Mark Hannah, who just returned from India and the World Masters event, with a current New Zealand ranking of ninth.

Auckland's Paul Bason made the semifinals of the New Zealand snooker championships and is ranked 14th in the country.

Another to keep an eye on is New Plymouth's Des Wilcox, who is ranked 17th nationally and has been named in the New Zealand Under-21 team to play a transtasman series with Australia U21.

Four Wanganui players are also in the field. Qualifying rounds for the tournament are on today from 8am, followed by the finals tomorrow.

The field is:

Section 1: Mark Hannah, Craven Teua, Ron Wilkie, Steve Matthews.

Section 2: Des Wilcocks, Kevin Haycock, Mike Healey, Murray Thompson.

Section 3: Paul Bason, Willie Matthews, Jack Lemon, Chris Kendrick.

Section 4: Stan Bunn, Peter Bevins, Nick Hinga, Dave Tauhore.