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WISE words from a seasoned professional helped a Leeds teenager storm to victory on a national junior tour.
Oliver Lines admitted he “played poorly” on day one of the third leg of the EASB Premier Junior Tour at the Atack Snooker Club, Nuneaton.
Despite winning two of his three matches, the 18-year-old only qualified for the knockout in third spot from his four-man round-robin group.
However, a chat with his dad Peter - the world No 56 who first turned professional 23 years ago - lifted the 2009 English Under-14 champion’s game.
Following a 4-1 victory over Clayton Humphries (Liverpool) in the final, Lines, who dropped just seven frames out of 26 in five knockout matches, said: “I played poorly in the group stage and me and my dad had a chat before the knockout.
“He just said ‘concentrate on your cueing, keep your focus and don’t let things you can’t control affect you and you will be fine’.
“I played really well after that against some tough opposition. But I scored really well and that was the difference.”
Lines pocketed £250 and climbed to second place behind rankings leader Luke Garland (Dudley, West Mids) who went out 4-3 in the quarter-finals to George Pragnell (Norwich).
Members of the host club were reported to be “amazed” by the standard of play. A total of 104 breaks of 40 or more, including four centuries, were recorded.
Saqib Nasir (Birmingham) scooped the £25 high-break prize for a 129 total clearance in the group stages following a foul by his opponent Billy O’Connor (Dagenham).
The fourth leg of eight is at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, on February 22-23.
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.
Oliver Lines admitted he “played poorly” on day one of the third leg of the EASB Premier Junior Tour at the Atack Snooker Club, Nuneaton.
Despite winning two of his three matches, the 18-year-old only qualified for the knockout in third spot from his four-man round-robin group.
However, a chat with his dad Peter - the world No 56 who first turned professional 23 years ago - lifted the 2009 English Under-14 champion’s game.
Following a 4-1 victory over Clayton Humphries (Liverpool) in the final, Lines, who dropped just seven frames out of 26 in five knockout matches, said: “I played poorly in the group stage and me and my dad had a chat before the knockout.
“He just said ‘concentrate on your cueing, keep your focus and don’t let things you can’t control affect you and you will be fine’.
“I played really well after that against some tough opposition. But I scored really well and that was the difference.”
Lines pocketed £250 and climbed to second place behind rankings leader Luke Garland (Dudley, West Mids) who went out 4-3 in the quarter-finals to George Pragnell (Norwich).
Members of the host club were reported to be “amazed” by the standard of play. A total of 104 breaks of 40 or more, including four centuries, were recorded.
Saqib Nasir (Birmingham) scooped the £25 high-break prize for a 129 total clearance in the group stages following a foul by his opponent Billy O’Connor (Dagenham).
The fourth leg of eight is at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, on February 22-23.
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.