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IF HISTORY repeats itself, Swindon-based Neil Craycraft could be on course to retain his Cuestars South of England Championship title.
Craycraft, who lives in Wantage but plays out of the 147 Snooker Club, Swindon, climbed to second place in the rankings after victory in the fifth leg of eight.
A 3-2 success over Alex Dunkley (Cue T’s, Marchwood) in the final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, took the 37-year-old clear of third-placed Mike Finn (Woolston Cons, Southampton).
Craycraft qualified from Group B as runner-up after losing 2-1 to Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading). He defeated Group C winner Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 3-0 in the last-eight and rankings leader Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Last season, Craycraft won the Championship play-off on Finals Day after finishing runner-up in the rankings.
Elsewhere, it was hats off to 57-year-old Trevor Thorn who made it as far as the semi-finals.
Billiards aficionado Thorn, who is based at Basingstoke Conservative Club and is ranked 20th on the English Amateur Billiards Association circuit, finished second in Group C to Richards with three wins out of four.
He accounted for Wallace 3-1 in the quarter-finals and was eventually beaten 3-1 by Dunkley in the last-four
Cuestars director John Hunter said: “Trevor Thorn’s semi-final place was the standout achievement from this event.”
Dunkley, 22, also beaten by Craycraft in the semis of the fourth leg last month, saw off practice partner and Cue T’s club-mate Billy Castle 3-1 in the last-eight.
Also in the last-eight, rankings favourite Ryan Mears, the Group D winner, powered past Adam Nash (Woolston Cons, Southampton) 3-0.
Paul Rose was the only member of the home club to compete in the event.
The sixth of the eight legs is at Copnor Snooker Club, Portsmouth, on Sunday, March 20.
BREAKS:
Alex Dunkley: 69, 57.
Billy Castle: 68, 60, 55.
Ben Tanner: 66, 42.
Neil Craycraft: 62, 56, 53.
Ryan Mears: 53, 51.
Trevor Thorn: 51.
Paul Rose: 32.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS:
GROUP A: 1st, Alex Dunkley (Cue T’s, Marchwood); 2nd, Adam Nash (Woolston Cons, Southampton); 3rd, Sam Thomas (Penarth Rd Snooker Club, Cardiff); 4th, James Facey (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 5th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 2nd, Neil Craycraft (147 SC, Swindon); 3rd, Jessie Stevens (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 4th, Dominic Holmes (Rileys, Guildford); 5th, Will Meharg (Chandler’s Ford SC).
GROUP C: 1st, Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 2nd, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Cons); 3rd, Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh); 4th, Mark McLean (Churchills, Eastleigh); 5th, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP D: 1st, Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 2nd, Billy Castle (Cue T’s, Marchwood); 3rd, James Ray (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 4th, Gary Bennett (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 5th, Kieran Williams (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff).
KNOCKOUT:
QUARTER-FINALS (8 points, £10): Dunkley beat Castle 3-1, Thorn beat Wallace 3-1, Craycraft beat Richards 3-0, Ryan Mears beat Nash 3-0.
SEMI-FINALS (12 points, £20): Dunkley beat Thorn 3-1, Craycraft beat Ryan Mears 3-0.
FINAL (25/18 points, £80/£40): Craycraft beat Dunkley 3-2.
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)
Craycraft, who lives in Wantage but plays out of the 147 Snooker Club, Swindon, climbed to second place in the rankings after victory in the fifth leg of eight.
A 3-2 success over Alex Dunkley (Cue T’s, Marchwood) in the final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, took the 37-year-old clear of third-placed Mike Finn (Woolston Cons, Southampton).
Craycraft qualified from Group B as runner-up after losing 2-1 to Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading). He defeated Group C winner Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 3-0 in the last-eight and rankings leader Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Last season, Craycraft won the Championship play-off on Finals Day after finishing runner-up in the rankings.
Elsewhere, it was hats off to 57-year-old Trevor Thorn who made it as far as the semi-finals.
Billiards aficionado Thorn, who is based at Basingstoke Conservative Club and is ranked 20th on the English Amateur Billiards Association circuit, finished second in Group C to Richards with three wins out of four.
He accounted for Wallace 3-1 in the quarter-finals and was eventually beaten 3-1 by Dunkley in the last-four
Cuestars director John Hunter said: “Trevor Thorn’s semi-final place was the standout achievement from this event.”
Dunkley, 22, also beaten by Craycraft in the semis of the fourth leg last month, saw off practice partner and Cue T’s club-mate Billy Castle 3-1 in the last-eight.
Also in the last-eight, rankings favourite Ryan Mears, the Group D winner, powered past Adam Nash (Woolston Cons, Southampton) 3-0.
Paul Rose was the only member of the home club to compete in the event.
The sixth of the eight legs is at Copnor Snooker Club, Portsmouth, on Sunday, March 20.
BREAKS:
Alex Dunkley: 69, 57.
Billy Castle: 68, 60, 55.
Ben Tanner: 66, 42.
Neil Craycraft: 62, 56, 53.
Ryan Mears: 53, 51.
Trevor Thorn: 51.
Paul Rose: 32.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS:
GROUP A: 1st, Alex Dunkley (Cue T’s, Marchwood); 2nd, Adam Nash (Woolston Cons, Southampton); 3rd, Sam Thomas (Penarth Rd Snooker Club, Cardiff); 4th, James Facey (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 5th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 2nd, Neil Craycraft (147 SC, Swindon); 3rd, Jessie Stevens (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 4th, Dominic Holmes (Rileys, Guildford); 5th, Will Meharg (Chandler’s Ford SC).
GROUP C: 1st, Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 2nd, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Cons); 3rd, Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh); 4th, Mark McLean (Churchills, Eastleigh); 5th, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP D: 1st, Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 2nd, Billy Castle (Cue T’s, Marchwood); 3rd, James Ray (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 4th, Gary Bennett (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff); 5th, Kieran Williams (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff).
KNOCKOUT:
QUARTER-FINALS (8 points, £10): Dunkley beat Castle 3-1, Thorn beat Wallace 3-1, Craycraft beat Richards 3-0, Ryan Mears beat Nash 3-0.
SEMI-FINALS (12 points, £20): Dunkley beat Thorn 3-1, Craycraft beat Ryan Mears 3-0.
FINAL (25/18 points, £80/£40): Craycraft beat Dunkley 3-2.
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)