Hunter secures fourth successive Masters win

JOHN Hunter reckons he was “lucky” to clinch a fourth successive victory on the midweek Cuestars Masters (55+) Tour.

The Andover cueman pocketed £60 in prize money after beating Steve Allen in the final of the second leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

But Hunter said: “I was lucky to win. Steve played the best snooker.

“He beat me in the group stages. If I hadn’t had two pieces of good fortune in the first and last frames of the final, he would have ended my winning run.”

Allen (Southampton) recorded the day’s highest break of 52, topped his round-robin group and defeated Steve Ashton (Salisbury) 2-0 in the last-four.

Second-group winner Paul Burt (Salisbury) went down 2-0 to Hunter in the second semi.

Debutant Adrian Walsh (Eastleigh) finished third in his six-man group.

Hunter leads the Masters rankings, which includes points earned by over-55 players on the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour, and he has amassed nearly double the points of his nearest rival. Allen and Ashton are joint second.

Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the third leg of four on Tuesday, April 5.

BREAKS

Steve Allen: 52.
Andy Darken: 41.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Steve Allen (Totton Recreation Club); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, David Tuckett (Allstars Sports Bar, Bristol); 5th, Andrew Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Adrian Walsh (Fareham SC); 4th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 5th, Jeff Payne (West Byfleet Social Club); 6th, Nick Miles (Cue T’s, Marchwood).

SEMI-FINALS (£10, 15 pts): Allen 2-0 Ashton, Hunter 2-0 Burt.

FINAL (£60/£30, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-1 Allen.

Picture: John Hunter (left) and Steve Allen.