POOL hall players took their cue from real-life Fast Eddies at one of the biggest eight-ball tournaments seen in the region.

World number one Darren "Dynamite" Appleton and legendary player Keith Brewer took on the best of the North-East during this month's Garden Farm Pool Tournament in Chester-le-Street.

Designed to pit amateur against professional, the event proved such a success that more big names are expected in Chester-le-Street for a rematch in August this year.

The main event attracted a field of 48 players and the eventual tournament winner was Mark Farnsworth from Sunderland when he defeated Hartlepool cue-man Darren Jones in the final to collect a trophy and £200 first prize.

But it was the chance to take on the best at their own game that proved perhaps the biggest draw for the punters.

Pool fanatic and event organiser Lee Holdsworth said: "This was the first proper pro-amateur pool tournament in the region, as far as I know.

"People enjoyed playing against the likes of Darren Appleton and Keith Brewer. Darren, in particular, showed his class by beating Keith Brewer, Chris Bowran, from Durham City, and Adrian Daniels, from Sunderland, in the finals.

"The whole tournament was such a success that the venue, the Garden Farm Hotel, is already booked for the last weekend in August."