Enter the Phyllis Bell Trophy
All matches will be played off scratch (no handicaps).
Closing date for entries: 8 October 2026.
Payment of your entry fee constitutes acceptance of ALL the rules. Make sure you read the rules before paying your entry fee.
Who can enter?
Any amateur snooker player who plays at a club within the Nottinghamshire county boundary or resides at an address within the Nottinghamshire county boundary. Main tour professionals cannot enter. The Tournament Director (“TD”) reserves the right to refuse entry.
Registering your entry
Payment of your £10.49 entry fee will secure your place in the draw.
49p of your entry fee will cover the bank charges incurred by Nottingham Snooker for taking card payments.
You can save yourself 49p if you pay by bank transfer! Message Steve Butler for the bank account details.
General Rules
This tournament will be played in accordance with the official rules of snooker as published by the WPBSA, except for “Miss Rule” and “Mercy Rule” variations explained below.
Miss Rule
The miss rule will not be played unless both competitors elect to play it.
If both players elect to play the miss rule, they may choose to play the “Three Miss Rule” which sets a limit of 3 foul and a miss calls. The version of the miss rule which will be played (full miss rule or three miss rule) should be agreed prior to the start of the match.
Mercy Rule
The mercy rule will not be played
Draw
A random draw will take place prior to each round and be broadcast live via Facebook Live. The first player drawn shall be the home player.
Match duration
All matches will be best of 5 frames.
Match venue
Matches up to and including the semi-final will be played at the home player’s nominated home venue*, which must be within the Nottinghamshire county boundary. It is the responsibility of the home player to ensure that a table is booked in advance of the match and that his opponent is made aware of the match venue.
*Please note that a player can change home venues throughout the season, but he must nominate his home venue prior to each match and ensure that his opponent knows which venue to travel to.
Paying for the table
The player drawn at home will be responsible for all table costs.
Referees
Referees will not be provided.
The Final
The two finalists will be expected to agree on a suitable venue for the final and make the necessary arrangements to book the table. Table costs, if applicable, should be shared equally between the two finalists. If the finalists would like a referee for the match, they will need to organise one themselves.
Arranging Matches
The Nottingham Snooker VAR Procedure will be used to arrange matches:
VAR Procedure
View the draw
- The TD will publish the draw on the Nottingham Snooker website.
- Players will also receive a message from the TD with details of their opponent (including their phone number) and the deadline for the match to be played (typically 28 days after the date of the draw).
Arrange and play your match
Within 7 days of the fixtures being published, the HOME PLAYER must:
- Make contact with the away player and arrange the match.
- Inform the TD of the date of the match.
Players will then play the match on the agreed date.
Please note that you are allowed to both arrange and play your match within this 7 day arrangement period. In this case, there is no requirement to notify the TD of the date, just play the match and the WINNER can send the result to the TD, including details of any breaks over 50.
Result to TD
- Immediately following the match being played, the WINNER must send the result to the TD, including details of any breaks over 50.
Prize Money & Trophies
- £3 will be taken from entry fees as a contribution to help cover annual bank charges
- £7 will be taken from entry fees to cover the cost of engraving the annual trophy
- The balance will be paid out in prize money
The winner will have their name engraved on the The Phyllis Bell trophy.
The winner will receive free entry into the end of season Alan Cunningham Trophy.
Penalty for Unsporting Conduct
The TD is at liberty to expel a player from the tournament for any conduct that he considers to be unsporting or at the detriment to the fair progression of the tournament.
Any failure to adhere to the tournament rules and/or VAR procedures will be classed as unsporting conduct and may result in a player being expelled from the tournament by the TD.
TD Discretion
The TD may, at his discretion, allow slight variations to these rules UPON REQUEST, if he feels it will not impede the fair progression of the tournament.
Previous Recorded Winners
2026: Matt Taylor
2023: Oliver Turner
2022: Wayne Martin
2020: Steve Burrows
2019: Joe Reynolds
2018: Andy Teale
2017: Bash Maqsood
2016: Sean Bowers
2015: Tom Goldstein
2014: Chris Winter