ALL'S set for an exciting climax to the revived Observer Snooker Cup.

A large crowd is expected for the final at Accrington's Poplar Club on Wednesday night, which will be preceded by the two semis on Monday and Tuesday.

The first three players into the semi-finals are holder Colin Morton, former champion Dale Clark and relative unknown Shabir Ahmed.

Morton, who plays from the Poplar, beat Jonathan Clark of Oswaldtwistle Conservative Club 3-0 in their quarter-final game on Wednesday. After a tight first frame, in which Morton needed the last three colours to win, it was plain sailing for the tournament favourite.

On Monday night Ahmed, of John's Snooker Club, Blackburn, beat Nigel Holmes of Rocket Ronnies, Great Harwood, 3-2 in a match which could have gone either way. The turning point was probably at the end of the third frame when Holmes potted an excellent black but unluckily went in-off to lose 72-70. He had won the first frame 47-27 but lost the second 71-23.

Holmes recovered to level the match by winning 79-39 in the fourth but the decisive final frame went 67-24 to Ahmed who hit a useful 51 break early on.

Tuesday's game saw Clark, of Poplar, beat Sean Greenall of Padiham Snooker Club 3-1.

After two close frames, Greenall winning the first and Clark the second, Clark began to s how his class and experience in the third, hitting a 45 break, and eventually ran out a fairly comfortable winner.

But Greenall still holds the highest break in the competition with an 82 in the previous round which, if unbeaten, would qualify him for a prize.

The last quarter-final between Shane Thornton of Baxenden Conservative Club and Mick Shaw of Rishton Free Gardeners was played last night and players will be notified after the semi-final draw is made on Saturday.

Next week's games all start at 7.30pm prompt and will be played over the best of seven frames, with the official presentation following the final.

The competition is sponored by the Observer and the North Lancs Training Group and £1,000 in prize money is on offer. The winner will receive a cash prize of £400 - one of the highest amounts ever paid in East Lancashire - while the runner-up will receive £200, the semi-finalists £50 each and the quarter-finalists £25 each.

In addition, ex-champion Chris Henry, now living in Belgium, has donated a cue, case and extension worth £270 for the player achieving the highest break.