SNOOKER takes centre stage this weekend as the search for the town's amateur king begins.

Thirty-six Warrington hopefuls will be battling it out for the right to play snooker legend Jimmy White before a packed Parr Hall audience on October 31.

For the GUARDIAN has teamed up with KU Media Presentations to bring two of the sport's most charismatic stars to the town for a wonderful night of exhibition snooker.

Jimmy White and John Virgo, who stars alongside funnyman Jim Davidson in BBC Television's hit Big Break programme, will entertain the 650-strong audience as they go to war over seven frames of mind-blowing ball and cue skill.

John Virgo will set the place alight with his renowned cabaret spot, featuring his trick shots parade, while 'the Whirlwind' Jimmy White will play a one-off Pro-Am challenge frame against Warrington's champion.

To find the champion, the inaugural GUARDIAN Cup competition has been set up and will be run by Warrington Snooker League.

It will start at Snookers, Priory Street, tomorrow and continue on Sunday. Games, which will be best of three frames, will be played down to the last two with the final, best of five frames, to be played at Snookers on August 22 at 2pm.

Warrington Snooker League's committee and members are excited about the prospect of their league's champion having a showdown with Jimmy White.

The winner will be treated as a VIP guest at the White-Virgo night at the Parr Hall, and, with a guest, will meet the players at a buffet reception and will have premier seats to watch the rest of the night's action. They will also pick up the GUARDIAN Cup and there will be trophies for the runner-up, the semi-finalists and there will be a bottle of champagne for the player who scores the highest break of the competition.

Competitors: S. Appleton, 147 B; I. Beaton, Richmonds A; J. Beaton, Richmonds A; A. Clare, Liv Rd B; P. Dean, Winwick Soc; M. Dinsdale, Newton Soc; B. Hall, Richmonds A; C. Hoyland, 147 B; S. Lavin, Irlam Cons; P. McKenna, Rialto; S. B. Mellor, 147 B; J. Moore, 147 B; S. Morris, 147 B; J. Murray, 147 B; P. Oliver, Irlam Cons; S. Rhodes, Snookers; N. Ryan, Rylands A; R. Taylor, 147 B; P. Tsang, 147 A; K. Veldhoven, Irlam Cons; S. White, Irlam Cons; D. Burke, Lymm Cons; A. Butler, GTBL A; M. Clayton, Alford A; M. Cook, Lymm Cons; G. Cooper, Alford A; M. Daniels, Pen Cons A; H. Haughton, GTBL A; G. Lunn, Liv Rd A; D. Shaw, Alford A; P. Williams, Lymm Cons; S. Adepetun, Alliance; B. Cooper, GESM; J. Turnbull, Rylands B; K. Morley, Touchers.

For snooker fans who wish to see the White-Virgo Challenge at the Parr Hall tickets will be available soon. Watch this space.

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