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LONDONER Sean O’Sullivan didn’t exactly plan to take a year off from the professional snooker circuit to win his first national amateur title – but that’s the way it has worked out.
The 21-year-old from Stepney Green was relegated in 2014 after two seasons but has picked up another two-year tour card via the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
And he capped his enforced but “productive” season off by grabbing his “last chance” to claim the English Under-21 Championship.
Trailing 2-0 to defending champion Ashley Carty, from Rotherham, O’Sullivan, known as The Storm, responded with a run of eight frames out of the next nine to prevail 8-3 at Longton Snooker Club, Stoke.
The turning point came when EASB Premier Junior Tour leader Carty was 2-0 up and 40-odd points in front in the third with three reds left and his opponent cleared to pinch the frame.
“Life on the main tour was a brilliant experience,” said O’Sullivan. “It was disappointing to drop off after the two years but it’s been a blessing in disguise as I’ve had a year to improve my game further and also had this opportunity to win the under-21 title.
“It was a great win for me. I put myself under lots of pressure to win, just simply because it was my last chance to win an EASB junior championship.
“I’ve been slogging it out trying to win one of them since the under-13s but usually kept coming up against the eventual winners.”
O’Sullivan added it was “even more special” because it was his first ever final and he had his family and sponsor - Mick Cox, from Aldgate pub Still & Star - in the audience.
Last August, O’Sullivan had a taste of possible things to come by reaching the quarter-finals of the first European Tour event in Latvia. He won through two amateur rounds and then beat Jamie Burnett 4-1, Mark Joyce 4-3, Jak Jones 4-3 and Mark Davis 4-2 before going out 4-0 to Mark Allen.
“It’s been a very productive season for me,” he said.
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach
The 21-year-old from Stepney Green was relegated in 2014 after two seasons but has picked up another two-year tour card via the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
And he capped his enforced but “productive” season off by grabbing his “last chance” to claim the English Under-21 Championship.
Trailing 2-0 to defending champion Ashley Carty, from Rotherham, O’Sullivan, known as The Storm, responded with a run of eight frames out of the next nine to prevail 8-3 at Longton Snooker Club, Stoke.
The turning point came when EASB Premier Junior Tour leader Carty was 2-0 up and 40-odd points in front in the third with three reds left and his opponent cleared to pinch the frame.
“Life on the main tour was a brilliant experience,” said O’Sullivan. “It was disappointing to drop off after the two years but it’s been a blessing in disguise as I’ve had a year to improve my game further and also had this opportunity to win the under-21 title.
“It was a great win for me. I put myself under lots of pressure to win, just simply because it was my last chance to win an EASB junior championship.
“I’ve been slogging it out trying to win one of them since the under-13s but usually kept coming up against the eventual winners.”
O’Sullivan added it was “even more special” because it was his first ever final and he had his family and sponsor - Mick Cox, from Aldgate pub Still & Star - in the audience.
Last August, O’Sullivan had a taste of possible things to come by reaching the quarter-finals of the first European Tour event in Latvia. He won through two amateur rounds and then beat Jamie Burnett 4-1, Mark Joyce 4-3, Jak Jones 4-3 and Mark Davis 4-2 before going out 4-0 to Mark Allen.
“It’s been a very productive season for me,” he said.
Tim Dunkley
EASB Media Officer South and World Snooker coach