Yorkshire under-19 snooker champion Damian Wilks has secured himself sponsorship for the coming season with QTIPS Shipley Snooker Centre and ROCKERLOCKER.CO.UK, both agreeing to an initial one-year deal.
Wilks had a good 2009-10, winning the county juniors and finishing runner-up in the Yorkshire Open Snooker Handicap and Bradford Snooker Pairs, with Yorkshire champion Gareth Green.
In the English Under-19 Championship, Wilks lost 4-2 to Chris Wakelin in the quarter-finals, and also reached the quarter-finals of the prestigious Pontin’s Pro-Am, going down 4-1 to Sam Harvey after beating Mark Livingstone 4-3 and Ian Jones 4-0.
In addition, Wilks has joined Green and Bradford professional Simon Bedford on the Players’ Tour Championship (PTC), which started over the summer.
Wilks lost 4-2 in the first tournament to Andrew Norman, but beat former pro Jeff Cundy 4-3 in the second with breaks of 55, 61 and 66, before bowing out 4-0 to professional Jordan Brown.
In the third competition, Wilks beat James Brown 4-2 before being knocked out by former World finalist Matthew Stevens 4-0.
PTC events are open to all main tour professionals and top amateurs and are a great way for young talent to test themselves against the best.
Carl Broadbent, owner of QTIPS, and Matt Ryder, owner of Rockerlocker, said: “Damian has great potential and we want to help him achieve all he can, with the club giving him free lights and with both of us providing the funds for the tournaments, which will hopefully give him the break he needs.”
Wilks added: “This sponsorship deal is a fantastic opportunity for me to progress and I have been practising hard throughout the summer to give me the best chance of a successful season.”
Entry forms for Bradford events will be sent out soon.
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