The 1990 Australian Billiards Championship was held at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in October. There were 33 entries and the initial stages of the Tournament were played on a round-robin basis. Matches were of two hours duration with the first two in each group and the two best-performing third-placed players going through to the K.O. stage. Defending champion Phil Tarrant had a strained leg muscle and, though limping badly, won his section but with only one century. David Collins won his section with seven centuries - best 167. George Ganim, who won 6 Australian titles between 1976 and 1981, made a return to competitive billiards and won his section.
There was an upset in the last-sixteen matches as sixth seed Joe Minici went out 957 - 927 to Victorian Barry Skelly. The quarters saw Tarrant, Collins, and Croft get through fairly comfortably, and George Gamin not quite so comfortably against Joe Millen. In the Semis David Collins had breaks of 221.109, and 101 in defeating fellow Victorian Neil Croft. Ganim's comeback ended as Tarrant won a low-scoring game 995 -836 making breaks of 171 and 99 Ganim having a 159.
The Final, played over three sessions, proved to be an exciting match. Collins made breaks of 102 and 107 in the first session, added a 110 in the second to lead 989 -939. Collins made further breaks in the final session to lead by over 200 but Tarrant was not finished and a determined recovery saw him only 8 points behind in the last minute. Collins scored 11 before the bell went and took his first National Title by just 17 points. B.Q.R. congratulates David Collins on his fine Championship win.
The South West Districts Grade 'C' championships were played at Cabra - Vale Diggers Club. Steve Brennan of the Cabra-Vale club played Mick McCormick of Rooty Hill in the final and won 95 - 83 making the top break of 33. The billiards is describes as being good for the grade.
B.Q.R, is grateful to Ray Balderston and Magazine, "Small Chalk, "or the above information.