WALES' top snooker players are making a bee-line for Newport. As the Tredegar Constitutional Club in Oakfield Road is staging the second annual TCC Pro-Am Snooker Championship on Thursday evenings August.

The prestigious invitation event is a great starter to the new snooker season and has attracted entries from 24 top players including World number 22 Dominic Dale, former World number 8 Darren Morgan along with top Barry-based pros Anthony Davies and Paul Davies.

World championship quarter-finalist Lee Walker from Newbridge and last year's champion Ryan Day of Bridgend are also competing for a share of the £1,350 prize fund. The eventual winner on August 22 will pick up a cheque for £500 and anyone who achieves the magical 147 maximum break will also earn almost £500.

The tournament is already in its second week and newly-crowned European amateur champion David John celebrated his wild card invitation on to this season's World Snooker main tour by registering comfortable wins over Newport's Lawrence Gilbert and Bargoed professional Ian Sargeant.

Jeff Haines of Pontypool has so far proved the surprise package of the event. Great victories over Welsh champion Tim English and World number 26 Anthony Davies means he is the only amateur player to progress to the quarter-final stage.

Newport Town champion Darren Thompson was beaten 3-1 by European seniors' champion Ron Jones of Abertyswwg.

Former Bassaleg professional and now top coach Neil Tomkins defeated his star pupil and new main tour player David Donovan of Cwmbran 3-0 before losing to Darren Morgan.

World amateur champion Ian Preece came back from 2-0 down to beat three times Newport Town championship runner-up Alun Squire 3-2. He then comfortably saw off James Reynolds on the way to his quarter-final place.

Top professional referee Paul Collier lost to veteran Wayne Jones. The quarter-final matches will commence on Thursday with Darren Morgan playing David John, Lee Walker versus Ian Preece, Ryan Day against Dominic Dale and Paul Davies v Jeff Haines.

Results: Round One: Wayne Jones 3 Paul Collier 0; Andrew Pagett 3 Mike Hodge 0; Ron Jones 3 Darren Thompson 1; Tim English 1 Jeff Haines 3; David Donovan 0 Neil Tomkins 3; David John 3 Lawrence Gilbert 1; Tony Chappel 3 Grant Casey 1; Ian Preece 3 Alun Squire 2.

Round Two (last 16): Ryan Day 4 Wayne Jones 1; Dominic Dale 4 Andrew Pagett 2; Paul Davies 4 Ron Jones 2; Anthony Davies 3 Jeff Haines 4; Darren Morgan 4 Neil Tomkins 1; Ian Sargeant 2 David John 4; Lee Walker 4 Tony Chappel 1; James Reynolds 1 Ian Preece 4.