The title returned to the Island for the first time in five years, the Africa House cueist defeating fellow Jerseyman Harry Barbet, of the Landmark Inn, in the final.
The match was not a classic but it had its share of tense and memorable moments.
Le Monnier won the toss in the two-leg affair and put Barbet in to break.
He managed to miss potting the red ball by about two inches but was fortunate that the white ball crept into the right-hand 50 pocket.
The crowd were stunned, but normal service was resumed when a typically flamboyant flick of the wrist dispatched both balls to gain Barbet the break back.
The break progressed without further alarm to over 6,000, but then came what turned out to be the defining moment.
With Barbet seemingly untroubled and Le Monnier expecting to have a challenging target to chase, Barbet missed a straight up the table shot, either misjudged or miscued.
Le Monnier’s first shot resulted in the break back and a steady 4,500 break was eventually logged – just, his final shot of the break passing perilously close to the left-hand white peg.
Barbet cleared up the pieces but the first leg went to Le Monnier 4,500 to 220.
Le Monnier started the second leg with an assured 6,170 break which, barring the most unfortunate of accidents, would see him home, and that indeed was the case.
Jersey League president Nigel Bisson paid tribute to the host of helpers who had worked to bring the championship to a successful conclusion and thanked the players who continue to support the event by coming to Jersey.
He also warmly thanked Jersey Tourism and Channel Hotels for their continued support.
A presentation was made to Bisson marking the 25th anniversary of the festival.
The championship started on Saturday morning for over 200 hopefuls.
Le Monnier, the joint-tournament director, was probably more concerned with the smooth running of play.
He entered the fray at lunchtime and a fairly comfortable win against Bouley Bay Inn’s Alan Phillips was followed by a decisive victory over Wallingford’s Kevin Murphy to reach the last 64.
With a random draw and over a dozen former champions still in it was inevitable that major names were going out in the early stages.
These included Jersey’s Peter Noel, the winner in 1984 and 1999 and Reading’s Bernie McCluskey, title-holder in 1985 and 2000, who departed to 1989 champion, Guernsey’s Trevor Gallienne.
Play resumed on Sunday morning with the departure of England internationals Mark Turner, of Wallingford, and Oxford’s Keith Sheard, the 1998 champion.
Also out went Gallienne, while results elsewhere ensured that Sunday afternoon’s fourth round would include a showdown between last year’s finalists Terry Race, of Brighton, the defending champion, and Jersey’s Nigel Ryall.
Race prevailed to head into the last 16 while Ryall was left with the consolation of the top Channel Islands break of 9,790.
Barbet was making steady progress, booking his place in the last 16 with a 9,530-5,070 win against Jersey’s Alan Le Blond, the 1988 winner.
Le Monnier edged through with an unconvincing performance against Keith Vibert, winning 4,480 to 3,650, but from then on he moved up a gear or two and steam-rollered his way through the closing stages, claiming the scalps of Landmark’s Ken Malorey, Kent’s Saville and England number one Tunstall – who he dispatched in a semi-final 9,630 to 6,060.
Barbet ended the hopes of England’s Dennis Atkins while in the quarter-final he faced Brighton’s Jim Millward – the only ever three-time winner.
A closely-fought match went right to the death with Barbet winning 8,910 to 8,760.
Barbet had a similar adventure in his semi-final against Jersey’s Graham Bisson, champion in 1982.
Another tight affair ensued with Barbet, a 1992 finalist, winning 9,070 to 8,670.
Medway’s Nick Wren retained the junior championship.
