Back-to-back wins helps Forster claim runner-up spot

WILL Forster has clinched the runner-up spot on the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour.

Back-to-back winner’s trophies took the 16-year-old from Wickham one point above Portsmouth-based Samuel Laxton.

Forster defeated rankings champion John Donovan 2-0 in the final of the eighth and final leg at Waterlooville Sports Bar.

It capped a great weekend for the teenager. The previous day he made his highest break of 77 in the Open Series at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

Forster, who is now based at the sports bar, reckons he raises his game against the likes of the talented Donovan, from London.

“It was pretty good,” he said. “I play better against better players so that’s why I think I do well against him.”

Forster overcame Laxton 2-0 in the last-four. It was Laxton’s fifth semi-final appearance of the season.

Donovan had reached his sixth final of the 2021/22 campaign with a 2-1 victory over ten-year-old Asten Sahota (Southampton), who had actually beaten Forster in the round-robin group stages.

The event was sponsored by Waterlooville-based snooker accessory supplier snookercrazy.com.

Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the Cuestars Under-21 Gold, Silver and Bronze Championships, with special guest Joe Perry, on Sunday, June 12.

BREAKS

Will Forster: 49, 39, 39, 31.
John Donovan: 41, 37, 33, 32.
Samuel Laxton: 38.
William Thomson: 31.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Donovan (Cousins, London); 2nd, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Mason Wilson (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Dean Russell (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Donovan 2-1 Sahota, Forster 2-0 Laxton.

FINAL (25/18 points): Forster 2-0 Donovan.

Picture, from left: Will Forster, Marc Lockley from event sponsor snookercrazy.com, John Donovan.