LANCASHIRE PLAYER SPOTLIGHT • ULTIMATE POOL
Justin Astley’s breakthrough title
The Darwen cueist defeats Declan Brennan 8–7 in a sudden-death deciding frame to win Ultimate Pool Pro Series Event 6.
FIRST
Ultimate Pool Pro Series title
8–7
Final victory over Declan Brennan
DARWEN
A major Lancashire success
Lancashire has another major cue-sport success to celebrate after Darwen’s Justin Astley captured his first Ultimate Pool Pro Series title in a dramatic conclusion to Event 6.
Astley entered the Ultimate Pool professional ranks as a wildcard for the 2026 season. Before arriving in Loughborough, he had yet to progress beyond the last 32 of a Pro Series event. By Sunday evening, he had defeated a succession of established players and was holding his first professional Ultimate Pool trophy.
THE ROAD TO THE TROPHY
A weekend built on comebacks and deciding frames
8–5
Dom Cooney
Astley records an 8–5 victory as his Event 6 campaign gathers momentum.
4 DOWN
Phil Harrison
Four frames behind, Astley recovers to overcome an established Ultimate Pool champion.
0–4, 1–5
Jaden Billingham
Astley overturns both deficits and takes the semi-final in the deciding frame.
8–7
Declan Brennan
A sudden-death deciding frame settles the final—and Astley becomes a Pro Series champion.
THE FINAL • ONE FRAME FOR THE TITLE
Brennan forces sudden death. Astley holds his nerve.
Declan Brennan reached the final after defeating Stevie Dempsey, Chris Melling and Shaun Chipperfield. He produced a late clearance to level the title match and force an all-or-nothing deciding frame. Astley responded under maximum pressure, completed the 8–7 victory and secured the trophy.
From outside the last 32 to Event 6 champion.
From Darwen to the professional stage
Astley is from Darwen, Lancashire, and previously competed on snooker’s professional circuit before increasingly turning his attention towards English eightball.
That transition adds another chapter to a career already spent competing at elite cue-sport level. His victory also demonstrates the depth of talent across Lancashire and the wider North West.
WHY THE WIN MATTERS
A wildcard becomes a champion
Astley entered the 2026 professional field as a wildcard and arrived at Event 6 without a run beyond the last 32. His victory changed the shape of his debut season and gave Lancashire supporters a new title winner to follow.
NEXT ON THE CALENDAR
Ultimate Pool returns to the North West
The professional circuit heads to Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan from 11–13 December 2026. After Astley’s breakthrough, Lancashire interest in the concluding Pro Series weekend will be even stronger.
Source and further coverage
Match reporting and image: Ultimate Pool. Follow the official Ultimate Pool website for current tournament information. LancashirePool will continue following Astley’s progress through the 2026 season.
Featured image credit: Ultimate Pool.