The finals of the 2006 IBSF World Snooker Team Championships have got underway at San Jose's DoubleTree Hotel, with England facing India 'A' in the Men's Event and India taking on New Zealand in the Seniors' Event.
After eight days of high-quality play in this first major international snooker event to be staged in the United States, England comfortably booked their final spot with a victory over the team from China Hong Kong, in which David Lilley knocked in his second century of the day's play — a break of 107 in frame four.
The only resistance China Hong Kong gave came from Fung Kwok Wai who took the sole frame in this 6-1 defeat by England.
India 'A' secured their final berth with an outstanding 6-3 win over Thailand, who have looked so dominant throughout the earlier stages of these Championships.
The Indian Seniors team have continued in the same form that they produced in the Group Stage of the event, and advanced into the final with a clear-cut 5-2 defeat of Australia.
New Zealand's path through the semifinal was not initially so easy however, as they fell 2-0 behing Ireland — Brendan Cooney producing a run of 73 in the first frame.
The New Zealand trio of Dene O'Kane, Harry Haenga and Gary Gillard then moved up through the gears to run off five straight frames and take that much coveted final placing.
