DEFENDING champion Trevor Kershaw came through the play-offs to claim the remaining place in this year's Bradford Billiards Championship semi-finals.

He defeated his brother Stephen Kershaw (by four), Steve Wilman (by eight) and James Butcher.

In the semi-finals, he will play Jason Devanney, while 2016 runner-up Paul Devitt will play seven-time champion Mark Hirst.

Hirst, Devitt and Stephen Kershaw will be competing in the World Billiards Championships from October 23-November 1 at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, so the Bradford semi-finals will be played following this competition.

The first-round draws for the Bradford Snooker Championships and Bradford Snooker Pairs have been made, and Mark Ball (Eccleshill Victoria Cons) will begin the defence of his snooker title against Tony Devanney (Girlington Cons).

Four-time winner Gareth Green takes on Richard Hagerty (Calverley Cons), 2004 champion Howard Mawson (Eccleshill Victoria Cons) faces Undercliffe Cricket's Sonny Sandhu, and 2014 champion John Wellham (Girlington Cons) lines-up against Chris Tolson (Cue Gardens). The remaining ties in the first-round are: H Rafiq v A Tipper, A. Holroyd v S Risidi, J Murgatroyd v C Wellham, M Hirst v A Green.

In the pairs, defending champions Gareth and Anthony Green (Harold Club), who have won the event four times, are at Shipley Conservative Club duo Chris Sneddon and Keith Walker, while Wayne Cooper and Kevin Firth (Undercliffe Cricket) will be looking to add their sixth title together and face a tough first-round tie against John and Chris Wellham (Girlington Cons).

The other ties are: C&D Tolson v M Slater & J Murgatroyd, S Sandhu & P Gaunt v L Walsh & H Mawson, M Sharp & R Duffield v J Walker & A Tipper, S Risidi & P Hamilton v J Bower & T Hall, C Hegarty & A. Holroyd v R Hagerty & R Beckford.

Entrants not named in the singles and pairs have received byes.

The Yorkshire Inter-District Snooker League gets underway this weekend, with Bradford No 1 travelling to face defending champions Castleford No 1 on Sunday in Division One.

Bradford No 2 host Brighouse a week later in Division Two.

The Bradford billiards team are not due to start their fixtures until next month.