Castlerea man set for European snooker odyssey
James Fennessy who will be taking part in the European Amateur Snooker Championships next week.
A local snooker player is currently preparing for the European Amateur Snooker Championships next week.
James Fennessy — a native of Edenderry — has been living in Cloonfower, Castlerea, for the past six years.
He is ranked seventh in the Irish amateur snooker ranks as he prepares to take on the best players in Europe. The European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA) Senior tournament commences on March 18th in Europe Hills Hotel in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), with Fennessy flying out on St. Patrick’s Day to compete.
The 27-year-old is an active member of Castlerea Snooker Club and is currently being coached by Fergal O’Brien, a man who spent 33 years on the professional circuit. O’Brien managed to reach a peak ranking of ninth in the world, and Fennessy was quick to praise the Dublin man’s influence.
“He has been awesome. We first met two or three years ago, and I reached out to him after Christmas to help me finetune my preparations for the European Championships.
“It is his knowledge of the game that stands out. He spent over 30 years at the highest level and competed against the very top professionals. He is very good on the mental side of the game, attacking, white ball control and the defensive side of the game. He has given me loads of useful drills. He is the coach you want,” Fennessy told the .
The Castlerea man reached the last 64 of the European Championships in 2019 in what was his first overseas trip as a senior international.
On that occasion he won three games, beating Israeli and Serbian opponents. Fennessy also defeated Ukrainian Lulian Boiko, who spent three years in the professional ranks, before losing to Israel’s Shachar Ruberg.
The winner of this tournament will be granted a two-year pass to join the professional snooker ranks, and Fennessy is hoping to upset the odds and secure the ultimate prize.
“My goal is to go one better than the last 64. There are a lot of top quality players. You have ex-professionals, world amateur champions and European champions. A win is not beyond the realms of possibility.
“I have never prepared like I have for this tournament. I feel like I have got a second wind. I am going out with one thing on my mind. Shaun Murphy won the 2005 World Championships as a qualifier, so stranger things have happened,” he said.
