Tweet
CUESTARS director John Hunter has announced a “highest break amnesty” for established Cuestars members.
Speaking after a full-blown trial for next season’s scratch competitions, Hunter said: “Some have exaggerated their break. They may have made it in the line-up. What we don’t want is a player on a tour way above their standard because they’re going to get disheartened.”
This season’s Cuestars Section Championships, at Jesters SC in Swindon, saw the ending of the traditional handicap system. Instead, a scratch round-robin format leading to a knockout was used in all three competitions.
Youngsters were divided into Gold, Silver or Bronze tournaments, depending on their standard.
Swindon’s Liam O’Shea took advantage of home tables in the Gold event for players with a high break of 60 and over. He accounted for Lee Roling (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3-1 in the final despite losing 3-2 to him in the group stages.
In the Silver event for players with a high break between 30 and 59, Lee Warner (Stoke SC, Gosport) defeated Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3-0 in the final.
Warner dropped just one of nine frames in the group stages and posted a 44 break.
He overcame Cuestars Under-15 Open Champion Bradley Chappell (Green Baize SC, Bournemouth) 2-1 in the last four. Bell, 15, beat Sam Jefferson (Jesters, Swindon) 2-1 in the second semi.
Bell’s taxi-driver dad Terry said: “It just goes to prove they can do it without the handicaps.”
Jesters pocketed another trophy in the Bronze event.
Joe Moon won all six group matches and beat Josh Evans (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2-0 in the final
Hunter was delighted the round-robin format worked but admitted that a tweak was needed in the break bands. The lower limit for the Silver group will be raised to 40.
Hunter said: “It clearly needs to go to 40 because we’ve got a large number of players in the 40-59 break group.
“It means I can run the competitions that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker Association coach)
Speaking after a full-blown trial for next season’s scratch competitions, Hunter said: “Some have exaggerated their break. They may have made it in the line-up. What we don’t want is a player on a tour way above their standard because they’re going to get disheartened.”
This season’s Cuestars Section Championships, at Jesters SC in Swindon, saw the ending of the traditional handicap system. Instead, a scratch round-robin format leading to a knockout was used in all three competitions.
Youngsters were divided into Gold, Silver or Bronze tournaments, depending on their standard.
Swindon’s Liam O’Shea took advantage of home tables in the Gold event for players with a high break of 60 and over. He accounted for Lee Roling (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3-1 in the final despite losing 3-2 to him in the group stages.
In the Silver event for players with a high break between 30 and 59, Lee Warner (Stoke SC, Gosport) defeated Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3-0 in the final.
Warner dropped just one of nine frames in the group stages and posted a 44 break.
He overcame Cuestars Under-15 Open Champion Bradley Chappell (Green Baize SC, Bournemouth) 2-1 in the last four. Bell, 15, beat Sam Jefferson (Jesters, Swindon) 2-1 in the second semi.
Bell’s taxi-driver dad Terry said: “It just goes to prove they can do it without the handicaps.”
Jesters pocketed another trophy in the Bronze event.
Joe Moon won all six group matches and beat Josh Evans (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2-0 in the final
Hunter was delighted the round-robin format worked but admitted that a tweak was needed in the break bands. The lower limit for the Silver group will be raised to 40.
Hunter said: “It clearly needs to go to 40 because we’ve got a large number of players in the 40-59 break group.
“It means I can run the competitions that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker Association coach)