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BOGNOR Regis-based snooker ace Jon Charlton admitted he was baffled after being crowned Cuestars South of England Champion.
Charlton, who had also finished top of the rankings after the six-leg tour, didn’t lose a frame all day in the last-16 play-off at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
And that included an exhibition game against world number eight Stephen Lee.
Two days previously, the 33-year-old clinched his eighth Chichester & District Snooker League singles title.
“It’s topped off my best ever season,” he declared. “And I don’t know how I’ve done it.”
Charlton - who lives in Camelsdale, Haslemere, but plays out of Aldwick Royal British Legion in Bognor Regis - swept past Welsh international and Cuestars Gold Champion Callum Lloyd 3-0 in the final.
“It was tough,” said last year’s beaten finalist. “I was cueing quite solid and I played two bad safeties in the final frame when I was 2-0 up and he got back into it. But I was solid on the colours and took control.
“He’s good. He’s not a player you want to leave in the balls.”
Earlier Charlton accounted for James Facey (Cardiff), Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club) and Ryan Mears (Aldershot) all 3-0.
After his first round win, the architect constructed a 47 break to see off guest-of-honour Lee.
Reflecting on his memorable day, Charlton added: “It was amazing. I didn’t expect that one bit.
“I had a scrappy first match and I thought ‘I’m struggling a little today’. And then I played Stephen Lee and played one of the games of my life.
“From then, I played with confidence. It was a nice feeling.”
It was Charlton’s second Cuestars season. And he revealed his first ever coach at the age of eight in Aldershot was a certain John Hunter, who was later to found the Cuestars organisation.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Jon Charlton (Aldwick RBL, Bognor Regis) 3 James Facey (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 0, Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 3 Neil Clayton (Woking SC) 1, Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) (54) 3 Lewis Miles (Jesters, Swindon) 1, Dominic Holmes (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 3 Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC) 2, Callum Lloyd (Rileys, Newport) 3 Ben Fortey (SWSA, Gloucester) 0, Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3 Kevin Ward (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 1, Alex O’Donoghue (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Kishan Hirani (Rileys, Cardiff), Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 3 Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) 2.
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Charlton (71) 3 Elphick 0, Mears 3 Holmes 2, Lloyd (100) 3 Tanner 0, O’Donoghue (93) 3 Richards 0.
SEMI-FINALS (£20): Lloyd (73) 3 O’Donoghue 0, Charlton 3 Mears 0.
FINAL (£100/£40): Charlton 3 Lloyd 0.
WELSH snooker international Callum Lloyd was crowned Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Champion after a thrilling five-frame battle that went to the final black.
The 17-year-old from Newport admitted the 3-2 victory over Ben Tanner in the play-off final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, was a “close one”.
Lloyd fired in an 83 break to take the lead and added a 102 to force a decider.
Tanner, from Eastleigh, who ended the eight-leg tour top of the rankings, cleared the colours to the pink in the fifth frame but couldn’t close out what would have been a remarkable win.
Lloyd eventually won a long safety battle on the final black.
“It was a close one,” said Lloyd. “He played pretty well.
“We both played a good few safeties. He left me a long black and I potted it.”
And Lloyd, who also reached the main Championship final where he lost 3-0 to Jon Charlton, added: “I’ve had a tough day.”
Tanner said: “It was close. It’s the third time I’ve played him and that’s the only time I’ve actually taken frames off him. I’ve had a good run this year.”
Tanner was also on the receiving end of a 100 break from Lloyd in a 3-0 quarter-final defeat in the main Championship quarter-finals.
“I’m a bit sick and tired of him,” joked the 19-year-old.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Bradley Chappell (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) w/o Kevin Impett (Chandler’s Ford SC), Dean Matthews (Ivy Leaf Club, Maidenhead) 3 Liam Burnet (The Academy, Eastleigh) 2, Ben Fortey (SWSA, Gloucester) 3 Ollie Kendrick (Whitmore Reans Cons, Wolverhampton) 1, Callum Lloyd (Rileys, Newport, South Wales) 3 Stuart Scott (Romford SC) 1, Oliver Parsons (Jesters, Swindon) 3 Daniel Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) 0, Danny Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) 3 Lee Roling (The Academy, Eastleigh) 0, Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) w/o Jordan Winbourne (Chandlers Ford SC), Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh) bye.
QUARTER-FINALS: Tanner 3 Chappell 2, Fortey 3 Matthews 0, Lloyd 3 Parsons 0, Tallentire 3 Bell 2.
SEMI-FINALS: Tanner (74) 3 Fortey 0, Lloyd 3 Tallentire 1.
FINAL: Lloyd (102, 83) 3 Tanner 2.
SONNIE O’Sullivan prevailed in an all-High Wycombe final to claim the snooker title of Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Champion.
O’Sullivan, based at the town’s Liberal Club, accounted for his practice partner and clubmate Ryan Gavin 2-0 in the play-off final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
“We practise together so I know his game,” said the 15-year-old. “I knew it was going to be tough but I kept my game together.”
The Buckinghamshire teenager, who finished joint eighth in the rankings after notching up a first ever Cuestars tournament win in the eighth and final leg last month in Swindon, suffered a kick on a dead-straight red on a break of 40 against first-round opponent Daniel Knox, from Woking.
But he admitted his “toughest” match was a 2-1 quarter-final tussle with Silver Tour rankings winner Troy Bodman on his home tables.
High Wycombe dominated the latter stages of the competition. O’Sullivan beat another clubmate, Paul Ives, 2-0 in the semi-finals.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Troy Bodman (Jesters, Swindon) 2 Daniel Hall (Jesters, Swindon) 0, Sonnie O’Sullivan (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) (40) 2 Daniel Knox (Woking SC) 1, Sam Storey (Thatcham SC) w/o Jack Dady (The Academy, Basingstoke), Paul Ives (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2 Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) 0, Thomas Lancastle (Eastville SC, Bristol) w/o Joshua Brooker (Liberal Club, High Wycombe), Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport) 0, Ryan Gavin (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) w/o Cameron Holt (Liberal Club, High Wycombe), Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Connor Probets (Jesters, Swindon).
QUARTER-FINALS: O’Sullivan 2 Bodman 1, Ives 2 Storey 0, Lancastle 2 Lloyd 0, Gavin 2 Lee 0.
SEMI-FINALS: O’Sullivan 2 Ives 0, Gavin 2 Lancastle 1.
FINAL: O’Sullivan 2 Gavin 0.
IT WAS a fairytale finish to a two-year journey on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour.
Austen Petty’s adventure started at Salisbury Snooker Club on October 17, 2010, and ended with a clenched fist and a smile at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, on Sunday.
And there was to be an astonishing postscript that will live long in the memory of the 13-year-old from Southampton.
Petty, who is based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, compiled a high-pressure 34 break to finally end the spirited resistance of Gosport’s Karl Eggar in the third and deciding frame of the play-off final.
After securing the first frame on the blue, Petty missed two match-ball pinks in the second and lost on the black.
But with Eggar’s family and clubmates watching, he pieced together the title-clinching break.
Remarkably, Eggar, wearing a brace on his right knee that was damaged in a game of dodgeball at school, refused to lie down (and not for the first time during the day). Needing a snooker with one red left, he kept on battling until Petty ended all hope by cutting in the pink.
Petty admitted the 34 break took the pressure off and he added: “It’s my last time in Bronze so I’m quite glad I won it.”
The Cuestars Bronze Champion collected his trophy from top professional Stephen Lee and then beat the world number eight on the final black in an exhibition frame.
Petty’s day started with a 29 break in the first frame of a 2-1 victory over clubmate Olly Clark.
In the quarter-finals, he faced rankings winner Stewart Ball, from Bournemouth.
Leading 1-0, Petty constructed a 24 clearance to the black but lost on the final ball. He added a 20 in the decider and led by more than 50 points when his opponent conceded
Continuing his run of big breaks, Petty fired in a 28 in his first semi-final frame against 12-year-old Jasmine Bolsover. And he won a black-ball second frame against the highly-rated Woking girl, who is ranked 23rd on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association circuit.
It booked the teenager a place in a first Cuestars final.
During his first season, Petty, who has been working with World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, failed to progress from the group stages.
Spurred on by a £450 sponsorship deal from The Oddfellows friendly society, Petty’s excellent temperament, determination and hard work culminated in four semi-finals appearances at the start of this season and an eighth-place finish in the rankings.
Earlier this season, he booked a Silver Tour spot with a 44 break in a tournament at his home club.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Stewart Ball (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 2 Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 0, Austen Petty (Chandler’s Ford SC) (29) 2 Olly Clark (Chandler’s Ford SC) 1, Jasmine Bolsover (Woking SC) 2 Kaine Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 0, Nathan Farmer (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 Corey Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) 0, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 2 Thomas Holton (Woking SC) 1, Mike Trigg (Chandler’s Ford SC) 2 Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) 1, Karl Eggar (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 Spike Hull (Chandler’s Ford SC) 0, Matthew Bellinger (Jesters, Swindon) 2 Bradley Lane (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) 0.
QUARTER-FINALS: Austen Petty (24, 20) 2 Ball 1, Bolsover 2 Farmer 0, Trigg 2 Cowdroy 0, Eggar 2 Bellinger 1.
SEMI-FINALS: Austen Petty (28) 2 Bolsover 0, Eggar 2 Trigg 0.
FINAL: Austen Petty (34) 2 Eggar 1.
HIGH Wycombe’s Nick Birney, a beaten finalist last year, returned to Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and ended a long day as Cuestars South of England Senior (40+) Champion.
Birney dropped just one frame in four matches and accounted for Reading’s Martin Wallace 3-0 in the play-off final, which finished after 8pm.
But the 42-year-old admitted: “The three frames could’ve gone either way.
“It’s been a long one and I can’t wait to get home and put my feet up.”
Birney lost 3-1 to old sparring partner Colin Norton in the 2011 final AND was pipped to this season’s rankings title by five points by Cuestars director John Hunter at the sixth and final leg in Newbury last month,
But surely he was pleased to see the defending champion couldn’t make this year’s event.
Birney laughed: “It’s good not to see Colin but in another way it’s nice to beat Colin. If you beat Colin, you’re either going to win it or be there or thereabouts.”
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 3 Wayne Hamilton (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 1, Gary Hart (Salisbury SC) 3 Alan Grainger (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 1, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC) 3 Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) 0, Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC) 3 Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 0, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) 3 Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon) 0, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Colin Norton (Fareham SC), Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 3 Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) 1, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club) 3 Mike Thatcher (Shirley Conservative Club) 0.
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Birney 3 Hart 0, Carroll 3 Ashton 1, Wallace 3 Thomas 1, Elphick beat Muddiman (no score recorded).
SEMI-FINALS (£20): Birney 3 Carroll 0, Wallace 3 Elphick 1.
FINAL (£100/£40): Birney 3 Wallace 0.
STEPHEN Lee reckons playing stronger opponents and watching what they actually do is the key to improving your game.
The world number eight told cuestars.uk.com that since Barry Hearn was elected World Snooker chairman massive opportunities have opened up young players.
Speaking at the Cuestars finals day at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, Lee, who won the 2012 Players Tour Championship, said: “Barry Hearn’s turned it around.
“It’s going to force more juniors to want to be professional and to give them more opportunities in life. If they do well as a junior then do well as an amateur and go to the PTCs, they can turn pro. You can get a tour card and off you go – suitcase, and try and earn a living.”
And Lee advised Cuestars members: “Practise, enjoy it and play as much as you can. If you can play better players you learn a lot quicker than playing people of your own standard.
“I was very lucky when I was coming through that I had (Phil Webb) in my area who was a top player and I got to play him every day. And I learnt from him.
“When you watch it on telly, you can see the shots but you can’t really see what they are doing and appreciate it. When you play live in a room and you can watch what they’re doing, that’s how you learn quickly.”
The Trowbridge professional took on 12 section champions and rankings winners in exhibition frames. He lost to Cuestars champion Jon Charlton, who compiled a 47 break, Silver Tour rankings winner Troy Bodman (60-36) and Bronze Champion Austen Petty on the final black.
Lee revealed he used to play alongside Cuestars director John Hunter for Wiltshire and that our beloved leader was “an exceptional player - in his day”.
He said: “(John’s) got a nice bunch of young kids, all talented and they all hit the ball really well. I played in Cuestars when I was a kid a good few years ago.
“John Hunter does a great job. He’s been doing a great job for many years now - exceptional job, to be fair.
“John played in the Wiltshire team with me. He was an exceptional player - in his day.”
RESULTS ROUND-UP
FAMILY DOUBLES (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-32: Callum & Rob McDonald (Salisbury SC) beat Thomas & Tony Holton (Woking SC), Daniel & Richard Knox (Woking SC) beat Spike Hull & Dave Lacey (Chandler’s Ford SC), Mark & Ben Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Ben & Kev Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh).
LAST-16: Daniel & Richard Knox beat Callum & Rob McDonald, Ian & Karl Eggar (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Bradley Chappell & dad Colin (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Jason & Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) beat Gavin & Jasmine Bolsover (Woking SC), James Budd & Ian Rowlands (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Joshua & Phil Lee (Jesters, Swindon), Kaine & Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) beat Duncan & Stewart Ball (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Daniel & Steve Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) beat Bradley & Jim Cowdroy (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Troy & John Bodman (Jesters, Swindon) beat Mark & Ben Tillison, Daniel & Scott Compton (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Danny & Malcolm Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury).
QUARTER-FINALS: Daniel & Richard Knox beat Ian & Karl Eggar, James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Jason & Joshua Hughes, Daniel & Steve Woods beat Kaine & Arnie Petty, Troy & John Bodman beat Daniel & Scott Compton.
SEMI-FINALS: James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Daniel & Richard Knox, Troy & John Bodman beat Daniel & Steve Woods.
FINAL: James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Troy & John Bodman.
SENIOR AND CHAMPIONSHIP PLATE (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-16: Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon) beat Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC), Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) beat Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
QUARTER-FINALS: Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) beat Mike Thatcher (Shirley Conservative Club), Alan Grainger (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) beat Wayne Hamilton (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex), Kevin Ward (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) beat Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon), Tonks beat Thomas.
SEMI-FINALS: Grainger beat Miles, Ward beat Tonks.
FINAL (winner £15): Ward beat Grainger.
SIX-REDS CHAMPIONSHIP (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-32: Corey Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) beat Callum McDonald (Salisbury SC), Daniel Hall (Jesters, Swindon) beat Sam Storey (Thatcham SC), James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Olly Clark (Chandler’s Ford SC), Stuart Scott (Romford SC) beat Spike Hull (Chandler’s Ford SC), Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon) beat Daniel Knox (Woking SC), Mickey Joyce (Crucible, Newbury) beat Thomas Holton (Woking SC), Bradley Lane (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
LAST-16: Tallentire beat Hall, Scott beat Budd, Lee beat Joyce, Connor Curtis (Crucible, Newbury) beat Kaine Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Daniel Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) (63 break) beat Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) beat Daniel Compton (Copnor SC, Portsmouth), Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) beat Lane, Liam Burnet (The Academy, Eastleigh) beat Ben Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
QUARTER-FINALS: Scott beat Tallentire, Lee beat Curtis, Woods beat Hughes, Bell beat Burnet.
SEMI-FINALS: Scott beat Lee, Bell beat Woods.
FINAL: Scott beat Bell.
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)
Charlton, who had also finished top of the rankings after the six-leg tour, didn’t lose a frame all day in the last-16 play-off at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
And that included an exhibition game against world number eight Stephen Lee.
Two days previously, the 33-year-old clinched his eighth Chichester & District Snooker League singles title.
“It’s topped off my best ever season,” he declared. “And I don’t know how I’ve done it.”
Charlton - who lives in Camelsdale, Haslemere, but plays out of Aldwick Royal British Legion in Bognor Regis - swept past Welsh international and Cuestars Gold Champion Callum Lloyd 3-0 in the final.
“It was tough,” said last year’s beaten finalist. “I was cueing quite solid and I played two bad safeties in the final frame when I was 2-0 up and he got back into it. But I was solid on the colours and took control.
“He’s good. He’s not a player you want to leave in the balls.”
Earlier Charlton accounted for James Facey (Cardiff), Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club) and Ryan Mears (Aldershot) all 3-0.
After his first round win, the architect constructed a 47 break to see off guest-of-honour Lee.
Reflecting on his memorable day, Charlton added: “It was amazing. I didn’t expect that one bit.
“I had a scrappy first match and I thought ‘I’m struggling a little today’. And then I played Stephen Lee and played one of the games of my life.
“From then, I played with confidence. It was a nice feeling.”
It was Charlton’s second Cuestars season. And he revealed his first ever coach at the age of eight in Aldershot was a certain John Hunter, who was later to found the Cuestars organisation.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Jon Charlton (Aldwick RBL, Bognor Regis) 3 James Facey (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 0, Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 3 Neil Clayton (Woking SC) 1, Ryan Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) (54) 3 Lewis Miles (Jesters, Swindon) 1, Dominic Holmes (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 3 Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC) 2, Callum Lloyd (Rileys, Newport) 3 Ben Fortey (SWSA, Gloucester) 0, Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh) 3 Kevin Ward (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 1, Alex O’Donoghue (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Kishan Hirani (Rileys, Cardiff), Chris Richards (Roath Labour Club, Cardiff) 3 Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) 2.
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Charlton (71) 3 Elphick 0, Mears 3 Holmes 2, Lloyd (100) 3 Tanner 0, O’Donoghue (93) 3 Richards 0.
SEMI-FINALS (£20): Lloyd (73) 3 O’Donoghue 0, Charlton 3 Mears 0.
FINAL (£100/£40): Charlton 3 Lloyd 0.
Lloyd clinches Gold thriller
WELSH snooker international Callum Lloyd was crowned Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Champion after a thrilling five-frame battle that went to the final black.
The 17-year-old from Newport admitted the 3-2 victory over Ben Tanner in the play-off final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, was a “close one”.
Lloyd fired in an 83 break to take the lead and added a 102 to force a decider.
Tanner, from Eastleigh, who ended the eight-leg tour top of the rankings, cleared the colours to the pink in the fifth frame but couldn’t close out what would have been a remarkable win.
Lloyd eventually won a long safety battle on the final black.
“It was a close one,” said Lloyd. “He played pretty well.
“We both played a good few safeties. He left me a long black and I potted it.”
And Lloyd, who also reached the main Championship final where he lost 3-0 to Jon Charlton, added: “I’ve had a tough day.”
Tanner said: “It was close. It’s the third time I’ve played him and that’s the only time I’ve actually taken frames off him. I’ve had a good run this year.”
Tanner was also on the receiving end of a 100 break from Lloyd in a 3-0 quarter-final defeat in the main Championship quarter-finals.
“I’m a bit sick and tired of him,” joked the 19-year-old.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Bradley Chappell (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) w/o Kevin Impett (Chandler’s Ford SC), Dean Matthews (Ivy Leaf Club, Maidenhead) 3 Liam Burnet (The Academy, Eastleigh) 2, Ben Fortey (SWSA, Gloucester) 3 Ollie Kendrick (Whitmore Reans Cons, Wolverhampton) 1, Callum Lloyd (Rileys, Newport, South Wales) 3 Stuart Scott (Romford SC) 1, Oliver Parsons (Jesters, Swindon) 3 Daniel Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) 0, Danny Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) 3 Lee Roling (The Academy, Eastleigh) 0, Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) w/o Jordan Winbourne (Chandlers Ford SC), Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh) bye.
QUARTER-FINALS: Tanner 3 Chappell 2, Fortey 3 Matthews 0, Lloyd 3 Parsons 0, Tallentire 3 Bell 2.
SEMI-FINALS: Tanner (74) 3 Fortey 0, Lloyd 3 Tallentire 1.
FINAL: Lloyd (102, 83) 3 Tanner 2.
O’Sullivan dominates all-High Wycombe Silver final
SONNIE O’Sullivan prevailed in an all-High Wycombe final to claim the snooker title of Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Champion.
O’Sullivan, based at the town’s Liberal Club, accounted for his practice partner and clubmate Ryan Gavin 2-0 in the play-off final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon.
“We practise together so I know his game,” said the 15-year-old. “I knew it was going to be tough but I kept my game together.”
The Buckinghamshire teenager, who finished joint eighth in the rankings after notching up a first ever Cuestars tournament win in the eighth and final leg last month in Swindon, suffered a kick on a dead-straight red on a break of 40 against first-round opponent Daniel Knox, from Woking.
But he admitted his “toughest” match was a 2-1 quarter-final tussle with Silver Tour rankings winner Troy Bodman on his home tables.
High Wycombe dominated the latter stages of the competition. O’Sullivan beat another clubmate, Paul Ives, 2-0 in the semi-finals.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Troy Bodman (Jesters, Swindon) 2 Daniel Hall (Jesters, Swindon) 0, Sonnie O’Sullivan (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) (40) 2 Daniel Knox (Woking SC) 1, Sam Storey (Thatcham SC) w/o Jack Dady (The Academy, Basingstoke), Paul Ives (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2 Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) 0, Thomas Lancastle (Eastville SC, Bristol) w/o Joshua Brooker (Liberal Club, High Wycombe), Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport) 0, Ryan Gavin (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) w/o Cameron Holt (Liberal Club, High Wycombe), Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Connor Probets (Jesters, Swindon).
QUARTER-FINALS: O’Sullivan 2 Bodman 1, Ives 2 Storey 0, Lancastle 2 Lloyd 0, Gavin 2 Lee 0.
SEMI-FINALS: O’Sullivan 2 Ives 0, Gavin 2 Lancastle 1.
FINAL: O’Sullivan 2 Gavin 0.
Journey’s end for Austen
IT WAS a fairytale finish to a two-year journey on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour.
Austen Petty’s adventure started at Salisbury Snooker Club on October 17, 2010, and ended with a clenched fist and a smile at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, on Sunday.
And there was to be an astonishing postscript that will live long in the memory of the 13-year-old from Southampton.
Petty, who is based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, compiled a high-pressure 34 break to finally end the spirited resistance of Gosport’s Karl Eggar in the third and deciding frame of the play-off final.
After securing the first frame on the blue, Petty missed two match-ball pinks in the second and lost on the black.
But with Eggar’s family and clubmates watching, he pieced together the title-clinching break.
Remarkably, Eggar, wearing a brace on his right knee that was damaged in a game of dodgeball at school, refused to lie down (and not for the first time during the day). Needing a snooker with one red left, he kept on battling until Petty ended all hope by cutting in the pink.
Petty admitted the 34 break took the pressure off and he added: “It’s my last time in Bronze so I’m quite glad I won it.”
The Cuestars Bronze Champion collected his trophy from top professional Stephen Lee and then beat the world number eight on the final black in an exhibition frame.
Petty’s day started with a 29 break in the first frame of a 2-1 victory over clubmate Olly Clark.
In the quarter-finals, he faced rankings winner Stewart Ball, from Bournemouth.
Leading 1-0, Petty constructed a 24 clearance to the black but lost on the final ball. He added a 20 in the decider and led by more than 50 points when his opponent conceded
Continuing his run of big breaks, Petty fired in a 28 in his first semi-final frame against 12-year-old Jasmine Bolsover. And he won a black-ball second frame against the highly-rated Woking girl, who is ranked 23rd on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association circuit.
It booked the teenager a place in a first Cuestars final.
During his first season, Petty, who has been working with World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, failed to progress from the group stages.
Spurred on by a £450 sponsorship deal from The Oddfellows friendly society, Petty’s excellent temperament, determination and hard work culminated in four semi-finals appearances at the start of this season and an eighth-place finish in the rankings.
Earlier this season, he booked a Silver Tour spot with a 44 break in a tournament at his home club.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Stewart Ball (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 2 Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 0, Austen Petty (Chandler’s Ford SC) (29) 2 Olly Clark (Chandler’s Ford SC) 1, Jasmine Bolsover (Woking SC) 2 Kaine Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 0, Nathan Farmer (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 Corey Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) 0, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) 2 Thomas Holton (Woking SC) 1, Mike Trigg (Chandler’s Ford SC) 2 Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) 1, Karl Eggar (Stoke SC, Gosport) 2 Spike Hull (Chandler’s Ford SC) 0, Matthew Bellinger (Jesters, Swindon) 2 Bradley Lane (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) 0.
QUARTER-FINALS: Austen Petty (24, 20) 2 Ball 1, Bolsover 2 Farmer 0, Trigg 2 Cowdroy 0, Eggar 2 Bellinger 1.
SEMI-FINALS: Austen Petty (28) 2 Bolsover 0, Eggar 2 Trigg 0.
FINAL: Austen Petty (34) 2 Eggar 1.
First Senior title for Birney
HIGH Wycombe’s Nick Birney, a beaten finalist last year, returned to Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and ended a long day as Cuestars South of England Senior (40+) Champion.
Birney dropped just one frame in four matches and accounted for Reading’s Martin Wallace 3-0 in the play-off final, which finished after 8pm.
But the 42-year-old admitted: “The three frames could’ve gone either way.
“It’s been a long one and I can’t wait to get home and put my feet up.”
Birney lost 3-1 to old sparring partner Colin Norton in the 2011 final AND was pipped to this season’s rankings title by five points by Cuestars director John Hunter at the sixth and final leg in Newbury last month,
But surely he was pleased to see the defending champion couldn’t make this year’s event.
Birney laughed: “It’s good not to see Colin but in another way it’s nice to beat Colin. If you beat Colin, you’re either going to win it or be there or thereabouts.”
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-16: Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 3 Wayne Hamilton (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 1, Gary Hart (Salisbury SC) 3 Alan Grainger (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 1, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC) 3 Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) 0, Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC) 3 Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) 0, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) 3 Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon) 0, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon) w/o Colin Norton (Fareham SC), Vince Elphick (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) 3 Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) 1, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club) 3 Mike Thatcher (Shirley Conservative Club) 0.
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Birney 3 Hart 0, Carroll 3 Ashton 1, Wallace 3 Thomas 1, Elphick beat Muddiman (no score recorded).
SEMI-FINALS (£20): Birney 3 Carroll 0, Wallace 3 Elphick 1.
FINAL (£100/£40): Birney 3 Wallace 0.
Stephen Lee exclusive and results round-up
STEPHEN Lee reckons playing stronger opponents and watching what they actually do is the key to improving your game.
The world number eight told cuestars.uk.com that since Barry Hearn was elected World Snooker chairman massive opportunities have opened up young players.
Speaking at the Cuestars finals day at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, Lee, who won the 2012 Players Tour Championship, said: “Barry Hearn’s turned it around.
“It’s going to force more juniors to want to be professional and to give them more opportunities in life. If they do well as a junior then do well as an amateur and go to the PTCs, they can turn pro. You can get a tour card and off you go – suitcase, and try and earn a living.”
And Lee advised Cuestars members: “Practise, enjoy it and play as much as you can. If you can play better players you learn a lot quicker than playing people of your own standard.
“I was very lucky when I was coming through that I had (Phil Webb) in my area who was a top player and I got to play him every day. And I learnt from him.
“When you watch it on telly, you can see the shots but you can’t really see what they are doing and appreciate it. When you play live in a room and you can watch what they’re doing, that’s how you learn quickly.”
The Trowbridge professional took on 12 section champions and rankings winners in exhibition frames. He lost to Cuestars champion Jon Charlton, who compiled a 47 break, Silver Tour rankings winner Troy Bodman (60-36) and Bronze Champion Austen Petty on the final black.
Lee revealed he used to play alongside Cuestars director John Hunter for Wiltshire and that our beloved leader was “an exceptional player - in his day”.
He said: “(John’s) got a nice bunch of young kids, all talented and they all hit the ball really well. I played in Cuestars when I was a kid a good few years ago.
“John Hunter does a great job. He’s been doing a great job for many years now - exceptional job, to be fair.
“John played in the Wiltshire team with me. He was an exceptional player - in his day.”
RESULTS ROUND-UP
FAMILY DOUBLES (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-32: Callum & Rob McDonald (Salisbury SC) beat Thomas & Tony Holton (Woking SC), Daniel & Richard Knox (Woking SC) beat Spike Hull & Dave Lacey (Chandler’s Ford SC), Mark & Ben Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Ben & Kev Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh).
LAST-16: Daniel & Richard Knox beat Callum & Rob McDonald, Ian & Karl Eggar (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Bradley Chappell & dad Colin (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Jason & Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) beat Gavin & Jasmine Bolsover (Woking SC), James Budd & Ian Rowlands (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Joshua & Phil Lee (Jesters, Swindon), Kaine & Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) beat Duncan & Stewart Ball (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Daniel & Steve Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) beat Bradley & Jim Cowdroy (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Troy & John Bodman (Jesters, Swindon) beat Mark & Ben Tillison, Daniel & Scott Compton (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Danny & Malcolm Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury).
QUARTER-FINALS: Daniel & Richard Knox beat Ian & Karl Eggar, James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Jason & Joshua Hughes, Daniel & Steve Woods beat Kaine & Arnie Petty, Troy & John Bodman beat Daniel & Scott Compton.
SEMI-FINALS: James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Daniel & Richard Knox, Troy & John Bodman beat Daniel & Steve Woods.
FINAL: James Budd & Ian Rowlands beat Troy & John Bodman.
SENIOR AND CHAMPIONSHIP PLATE (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-16: Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon) beat Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC), Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) beat Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
QUARTER-FINALS: Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, near Fawley) beat Mike Thatcher (Shirley Conservative Club), Alan Grainger (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) beat Wayne Hamilton (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex), Kevin Ward (Hassocks Mens Club, West Sussex) beat Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon), Tonks beat Thomas.
SEMI-FINALS: Grainger beat Miles, Ward beat Tonks.
FINAL (winner £15): Ward beat Grainger.
SIX-REDS CHAMPIONSHIP (ONE-FRAME MATCHES)
LAST-32: Corey Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) beat Callum McDonald (Salisbury SC), Daniel Hall (Jesters, Swindon) beat Sam Storey (Thatcham SC), James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport) beat Olly Clark (Chandler’s Ford SC), Stuart Scott (Romford SC) beat Spike Hull (Chandler’s Ford SC), Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon) beat Daniel Knox (Woking SC), Mickey Joyce (Crucible, Newbury) beat Thomas Holton (Woking SC), Bradley Lane (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) beat Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
LAST-16: Tallentire beat Hall, Scott beat Budd, Lee beat Joyce, Connor Curtis (Crucible, Newbury) beat Kaine Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Daniel Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) (63 break) beat Arnie Petty (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth), Joshua Hughes (Rileys, Worcester) beat Daniel Compton (Copnor SC, Portsmouth), Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) beat Lane, Liam Burnet (The Academy, Eastleigh) beat Ben Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
QUARTER-FINALS: Scott beat Tallentire, Lee beat Curtis, Woods beat Hughes, Bell beat Burnet.
SEMI-FINALS: Scott beat Lee, Bell beat Woods.
FINAL: Scott beat Bell.
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)