The event started in the mid-1980s when it was contested by club champions from the Great Lakes, Manning and Hastings areas.

Terry Simmons from Wingham was the dominant player from the era. However, it was later thrown open to players from outside the area and attracted semi-professionals from around NSW and interstate.

Manning-based players were usually eliminated in the early rounds.

Michael Sharpe, who started playing snooker in the Manning competition but is now based in Sydney, won the 2017 event. Sharpe is a protege of Terry Simmons.

However, Club Taree Snooker president Simon Magin said this weekend’s tournament would be largely restricted to players who take part in the Manning competition.

There’ll again be 32 players in the field, 27 from the Club Taree, Club Harrington, Club Forster and Wingham clubs.

All are involved in the Manning competition.

There will also be three players from Port Macquarie and two from the Central Coast who have links here. It’ll be run under handicap conditions.

Mr Magin said sponsors were concerned that prizemoney was leaving the area under the previous format.

“We were losing support,’’ he said.

“But now that we’ve changed the format, sponsorship has increased. We’ll be looking to find the top player from this area and locals will get more time on the tables.’’

The tournament will offer more than $2000 in prizemoney. Mr Magin believes Barry Carlaw, Mick Hanlon and Garry Collins will be the front runners – Collins was a quarter finalist under the previous format.

Three tables will be in operation at Club Taree with play underway from 9am on Saturday.

Semifinals will be decided on Sunday morning followed by the final.

“It should be a great tournament,’’ Mr Magin said.

“We’re hoping to get a good crowd there.’’