Whanganui hunting first win at AG Challenge

Taranaki's Des Wilcox competes at the first AG Challenge Championship at the Wanganui East Club.

This weekend represents the best chance for a local - either home grown or imported - to win the AG Challenge Championship tournament at the Wanganui East Club.

The 3rd annual edition of the singles snooker tournament will see 16 premier players invited to play for a prize pool of over $4000.

They will split into four sections, with the qualifiers held tomorrow, with the post-section games on Sunday.

Both the previous winners - inaugural champion Jack Lemon of Wairarapa and Hamilton's Steve Robertson - are taking part again.

Organiser Peter Bouzaid said the 2016 winner Robertson is currently in the process of selling up his Waikato property and moving to Whanganui to live.

Others to fly the Whanganui flag are Mike Healey, the 2015 runnerup Steve Matthews, brother Willie Matthews and Paul Briggs.

"Mike Healey is probably the top pick of our local guys," said Bouzaid.

The other leading contenders are Lower Hutt's Craven Teua, Auckland's Paul Bason and Wellington's Mark Hannah, currently ranked 11th in New Zealand.

To allow a full Plate Competition on Sunday, plate qualifying games are also being held at the St Johns Club in town, before the finals move back to the Wanganui East club alongside the main finals.

Bouzaid wanted to thank St Johns Club for the use of their tables these last couple of tournaments, while Wanganui East is planning to add two extra tables at their clubrooms by next year.

The matches will be a best-of-three format, with the final a best-of-five.

Competition starts at 8am both days and admission is free.