ALDERSHOT hotshot Ryan Mears squeezed through to the last-16 of the English Six-Reds Snooker Championship by the narrowest of margins.
The 2012 runner-up said he “couldn’t believe how close it was” after pipping Cornwall’s Darran Lock, the 2013 runner-up, by just one frame.
Mears met Lock in the final match of the southern qualifier at the Hurricane Room, St Albans, and needed a snooker to take the first frame on the black.
The 25-year-old went on to win 3-1 unaware that a second frame for his opponent would have been enough. As the pair ended with identical records, Mears progressed on the head-to-head rule.
“I thought a win for either of us would ensure second spot (in the round-robin group),” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it was close enough that if I had only won 3-2 it wouldn’t have been enough. So I was quite relieved because I didn’t know this while I was playing.”
Ashley Beal (East Sussex), Kurtis Weaver (Bristol) and Wayne Townsend (Middlesex) qualified along with Mears for the next stage at Barretts Club, Northampton, on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
Townsend chalked up eight breaks of more than 30, including the day’s best of 69, in his 18 frames.
The 34-year-old, who hails from Northolt and is sponsored by Hayes Working Mens Club, came close to turning professional years ago.
“It’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve got back in to it properly,” he said.
“It was a great day. I felt I played well all day and was pleased to win the group.”
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach
The English Association of Snooker & Billiards is the national governing body for the amateur game in this country. For more information about competitions, rankings lists and results, see www.easb.co.uk.
The 2012 runner-up said he “couldn’t believe how close it was” after pipping Cornwall’s Darran Lock, the 2013 runner-up, by just one frame.
Mears met Lock in the final match of the southern qualifier at the Hurricane Room, St Albans, and needed a snooker to take the first frame on the black.
The 25-year-old went on to win 3-1 unaware that a second frame for his opponent would have been enough. As the pair ended with identical records, Mears progressed on the head-to-head rule.
“I thought a win for either of us would ensure second spot (in the round-robin group),” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it was close enough that if I had only won 3-2 it wouldn’t have been enough. So I was quite relieved because I didn’t know this while I was playing.”
Ashley Beal (East Sussex), Kurtis Weaver (Bristol) and Wayne Townsend (Middlesex) qualified along with Mears for the next stage at Barretts Club, Northampton, on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
Townsend chalked up eight breaks of more than 30, including the day’s best of 69, in his 18 frames.
The 34-year-old, who hails from Northolt and is sponsored by Hayes Working Mens Club, came close to turning professional years ago.
“It’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve got back in to it properly,” he said.
“It was a great day. I felt I played well all day and was pleased to win the group.”
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach
The English Association of Snooker & Billiards is the national governing body for the amateur game in this country. For more information about competitions, rankings lists and results, see www.easb.co.uk.
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