Champion Taylor rises to the top in Arizona
filed Monday, September 30, 2024. 10:56am PT/USA
The reigning United States National Snooker Champion, Daren Taylor, has bagged himself another title by capturing the 2024 Arizona Snooker Open at the Arizona Snooker Academy in Chandler, Arizona.
Daren Taylor (pictured left) with the proprietor of the Arizona Snooker Academy, Romil Azemat
Photo courtesy of Arizona Snooker Academy
The Arizona Snooker Academy is one of the most amazing snooker facilities in the United States, with four Xingpai Star Tournament tables in a setting that endeavors to replicate professional competition standards.
Taylor was the number one seeded player for this United States Snooker Association (USSA) National Tour event and came through his group in first place, working through the knockout rounds where he faced the proprietor of the Arizona Snooker Academy, Romil Azemat, in the semifinals.
The other semifinal featured the 2023 United States National Snooker Champion, Steven Wong, who matched up against Hasanain Alsultani, who had made the trip from Sacramento, California, to compete.
Taylor defeated Azemat to set-up a final against Alsultani, who came through his semifinal against Wong.
It was a nail-biting final that went to 2-2, only for Taylor to fight back in the final frame to clear the table for a tense 3-2 victory.
This win for Taylor is fantastic preparation for the defense of his United States National Snooker Championship title at the Embassy Billiards Club from November 22-25, where he will start as the number one seed and be first in action on the morning of the first day of play.
