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YOU could have put your shirt on Rotherham teenager Ashley Carty potting his way to the final of the English Under-21 Snooker Championship.
Fortunately, someone actually did.
And he will now take on Leicester cueman Joe O’Connor for the national title in June.
Carty was forced to phone a friend after arriving for the last-16 knockout at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, wearing the wrong clothes.
The 18-year-old then repaid the Good Samaritan by knocking him out in the semi-finals.
“I didn’t read the players’ letter properly,” he admitted. “So I turned up in a polo top.
“Oliver (Lines) hadn’t turned up yet so I rang him to see if he had a spare shirt and waistcoat. Luckily he had.”
Suitably attired, a relieved Carty opened with a 97, the highest break of the day, in a 4-1 last-16 victory over Joe Roberts (Featherstone) and then defeated Ronnie Kralj (Northampton) 4-2 to set up a clash with Lines.
Lines, who a week previously had been crowned European Under-21 Champion in Romania, took a 3-0 lead but Carty, a semi-final casualty in Bucharest, prevailed 5-4.
Carty said: “It was a big result for me because I haven’t beaten Oliver in the last four or so games and with him on a high after the European Championship. Hopefully, I can play well in the final.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor accounted for Adam Edge (Nuneaton) 4-2, former under-14 and under-16 champion Shane Castle (Southampton) 4-1 and Saqib Nasir (Birmingham) 5-4.
The 18-year-old said: “I played quite well throughout the day, beating three tough opponents.
“I’m pleased with what I have achieved and I’m sure that the final will be a good match.”
The two English Association of Snooker & Billiards Premier Junior Tour players face a best-of-15 frame final at the Northern Snooker Centre during the weekend of June 7-8.
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.
Fortunately, someone actually did.
And he will now take on Leicester cueman Joe O’Connor for the national title in June.
Carty was forced to phone a friend after arriving for the last-16 knockout at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, wearing the wrong clothes.
The 18-year-old then repaid the Good Samaritan by knocking him out in the semi-finals.
“I didn’t read the players’ letter properly,” he admitted. “So I turned up in a polo top.
“Oliver (Lines) hadn’t turned up yet so I rang him to see if he had a spare shirt and waistcoat. Luckily he had.”
Suitably attired, a relieved Carty opened with a 97, the highest break of the day, in a 4-1 last-16 victory over Joe Roberts (Featherstone) and then defeated Ronnie Kralj (Northampton) 4-2 to set up a clash with Lines.
Lines, who a week previously had been crowned European Under-21 Champion in Romania, took a 3-0 lead but Carty, a semi-final casualty in Bucharest, prevailed 5-4.
Carty said: “It was a big result for me because I haven’t beaten Oliver in the last four or so games and with him on a high after the European Championship. Hopefully, I can play well in the final.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor accounted for Adam Edge (Nuneaton) 4-2, former under-14 and under-16 champion Shane Castle (Southampton) 4-1 and Saqib Nasir (Birmingham) 5-4.
The 18-year-old said: “I played quite well throughout the day, beating three tough opponents.
“I’m pleased with what I have achieved and I’m sure that the final will be a good match.”
The two English Association of Snooker & Billiards Premier Junior Tour players face a best-of-15 frame final at the Northern Snooker Centre during the weekend of June 7-8.
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.