RONNIE O’SULLIVAN won the sixth staging of the Pink Ribbon pro-am at the Capital Venue in Gloucester in Sunday night.
O’Sullivan defeated Darryn Walker 4-2 to win the title, which is staged to raise money and awareness for breast cancer charities. More than £11,000 was raised, adding to the more than £50,000 raised in previous years.
Although O’Sullivan came away with the trophy, Walker proved the star of the event. Amateurs have double entry into both sides of the draw and Walker, a former professional who qualified for last season’s World Seniors Championship, fought his way through to both semi-finals.
In the first, he beat Craig Steadman and was due to play O’Sullivan in the second but, given the sheer number of matches he had played and the way it pushed the whole schedule back, it was agreed to make this the final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Darryn Walker: old friends meet in final
O’Sullivan gave his winner’s prize to the charity and also signed photographs to donate to the appeal.
He and Walker knew each other well, having shared a chalet together at Pontin’s in Prestatyn during the snooker festival when they were boys.
The Pink Ribbon pro-am began in 2010. It was launched by Paul Mount to raise money for breast cancer after his sister, Kay Suzanne, died from the disease.
Previous winners include Michael Holt, Mark Joyce, Stuart Bingham, Joe Perry and Peter Lines.
Photographs by Monique Limbos.