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TWO Leicester potters have won promotion to the English Association of Snooker & Billiards (EASB) Premier Junior Tour.
That means the city will have four young snooker players ranked among the best 48 under-21s in the country next season.
Callum Costello and Kieran Phillips qualified via the Midlands section of the EASB Regional Junior Tour.
They join Louis Heathcote, who finished fourth on the Premier Tour, and Joe O’Connor, who is ranked 12th.
After losing all four of his previous finals this season, Costello at last tasted victory in the eighth and final leg at Barratts Snooker Club, Northampton.
He finished runner-up to Phillips in the rankings following a tight 2-0 win against third-placed Richard Haney (Dudley).
Costello, who pocketed £70 plus the £15 high-break prize for a 71 against Daniel Bagley (Dronfield) in the group stages, said: “I knew it was an important tournament so I was putting the hours in on the practice table.
“I started off quite slow and scrappy but, after I knocked in a couple of good breaks, I improved as the day went on.
“I’m happy with how I played after the group stage and delighted to be on the Premier Tour next season.”
Meanwhile, Phillips, beaten 2-0 by Costello in the last-four, said: “I gave myself the target to get off the Regional Tour this year and get on the Prem so I get to play better players and improve my own game.
“I’m also really pleased with the way I went about getting off the tour, winning three events and finishing top of the rankings.
“I can’t ask for much more of myself.”
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.
That means the city will have four young snooker players ranked among the best 48 under-21s in the country next season.
Callum Costello and Kieran Phillips qualified via the Midlands section of the EASB Regional Junior Tour.
They join Louis Heathcote, who finished fourth on the Premier Tour, and Joe O’Connor, who is ranked 12th.
After losing all four of his previous finals this season, Costello at last tasted victory in the eighth and final leg at Barratts Snooker Club, Northampton.
He finished runner-up to Phillips in the rankings following a tight 2-0 win against third-placed Richard Haney (Dudley).
Costello, who pocketed £70 plus the £15 high-break prize for a 71 against Daniel Bagley (Dronfield) in the group stages, said: “I knew it was an important tournament so I was putting the hours in on the practice table.
“I started off quite slow and scrappy but, after I knocked in a couple of good breaks, I improved as the day went on.
“I’m happy with how I played after the group stage and delighted to be on the Premier Tour next season.”
Meanwhile, Phillips, beaten 2-0 by Costello in the last-four, said: “I gave myself the target to get off the Regional Tour this year and get on the Prem so I get to play better players and improve my own game.
“I’m also really pleased with the way I went about getting off the tour, winning three events and finishing top of the rankings.
“I can’t ask for much more of myself.”
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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