Tweet
A 14-year-old from Gosport who had never before entered a national competition will be one to watch in the last-16 of the English Under-16 Snooker Championship.
Mark Lloyd did not drop a frame in four matches at the southern qualifier hosted by Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
The south coast teenager accounted for Olly Clark (Gosport), Jonny Mutch (Cambridge), Finton McCann (Bedford) and Canberk Benning (Swindon) - all with 3-0 scorelines.
“I enjoyed the matches,” he said. “They all played well.”
You may remember that Lloyd won the first EASB Regional Junior Tour South event this season on his debut. He is based at and sponsored by Stoke Snooker Club, Gosport, and currently leads the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour rankings.
Surrey teenager Joe Taylor will also travel to Leeds in April for the knockout stage.
The 15-year-old from Virginia Water topped his round-robin group with four wins out of four.
He said: “Overall, I saw the day as a big step-up in my game, not in terms of break building but just consistency in solid match-play.
“I felt in control for a lot of the day and was confident of qualifying. It was just a very good confident boost to take into upcoming tournaments and I now hope to build on this and carrying on progressing.”
Michael Loveridge-Greene (Gillingham, Kent), an under-14 quarter-finalist in 2012, took the third southern spot as the best runner-up on frames difference from Clark.
But Clark vowed to return next season and claim the title.
“I was absolutely gutted at being so close,” said the 14-year-old. “But I’m going to put the work in to have a good season and then go and win it next year.
“It was a tough way to go out. I thought I was through. I needed Dan Sykes to beat Michael but he lost 3-1.”
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.
Mark Lloyd did not drop a frame in four matches at the southern qualifier hosted by Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
The south coast teenager accounted for Olly Clark (Gosport), Jonny Mutch (Cambridge), Finton McCann (Bedford) and Canberk Benning (Swindon) - all with 3-0 scorelines.
“I enjoyed the matches,” he said. “They all played well.”
You may remember that Lloyd won the first EASB Regional Junior Tour South event this season on his debut. He is based at and sponsored by Stoke Snooker Club, Gosport, and currently leads the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour rankings.
Surrey teenager Joe Taylor will also travel to Leeds in April for the knockout stage.
The 15-year-old from Virginia Water topped his round-robin group with four wins out of four.
He said: “Overall, I saw the day as a big step-up in my game, not in terms of break building but just consistency in solid match-play.
“I felt in control for a lot of the day and was confident of qualifying. It was just a very good confident boost to take into upcoming tournaments and I now hope to build on this and carrying on progressing.”
Michael Loveridge-Greene (Gillingham, Kent), an under-14 quarter-finalist in 2012, took the third southern spot as the best runner-up on frames difference from Clark.
But Clark vowed to return next season and claim the title.
“I was absolutely gutted at being so close,” said the 14-year-old. “But I’m going to put the work in to have a good season and then go and win it next year.
“It was a tough way to go out. I thought I was through. I needed Dan Sykes to beat Michael but he lost 3-1.”
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.