Wallace beats top two to record first tournament win for two years

MARTIN Wallace beat the top-two ranked players on the Cuestars Seniors Tour to claim his first success on the over-40’s circuit for more than two years

The 56-year-old from Wokingham pocketed £140 in prize money after clinching the seventh leg at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Wallace wrapped up a 2-0 victory over rankings leader Paul Davis (Wareham) in the final with an excellent black to the green pocket with the cue-ball tight to the top cushion.

Earlier, he defeated number-two ranked Jason Pusser (Bournemouth) by the same scoreline in the last-four.

Speaking after his first tournament win since the Bournemouth leg in January, 2022, Wallace admitted he wasn’t sure he would win another Seniors event because the standard is always improving and he was delighted to even make the final from such a strong field.

It was an impressive performance by home player Jimmy Johnson to make the semi-finals on his Seniors debut.

A total of 24 breaks of 40 or more were recorded. Pusser took the honours with a 66.

Wallace moves into second place, 21 points adrift of Davis with two tournaments remaining.

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the eighth leg of nine on Sunday, April 21.

For more information about Salisbury SC, the event sponsor, go to salisburysnookerclub.co.uk.

BREAKS

Jason Pusser: 66, 46, 46, 40.
Paul Davis: 57, 41.
Mark Thomas: 54, 44.
Wai Lee: 53.
Neil Jefferis: 53.
John Hunter: 50, 49, 48, 42.
Martin Wallace: 50.
Alex Greenham: 49.
Lun Lee: 48, 45.
Jimmy Johnson: 42.
Neil Herd: 41.
Simon Peacock: 41.
Steve Ashton: 40.
Nigel Phillips: 40.
Simon Dent: 40.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Paul Davis (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Dave Stockwell (Salisbury SC).

GROUP B: 1st, Jason Pusser (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 2nd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Simon Peacock (Salisbury SC); 4th, Nigel Phillips (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).

GROUP C: 1st, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Mike Amsden (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Chris Davis (Talbot Rise Club, Bournemouth).

GROUP D: 1st, Jimmy Johnson (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Kevin Palmer (Frames, Coulsdon; 3rd, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club); 4th, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury).

GROUP E: 1st, Neil Jefferis (Ightham Club); 2nd, Carl Davis (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Steve Read (Chandlers Ford SC).

GROUP F: 1st, Alex Greenham (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, David Brock (Exeter SC); 3rd, Neil Herd; 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).

GROUP G: 1st Simon Dent (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Frank Gumbrell (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Lun Lee (Orpington); 4th, Gareth Samuel (Lytchett & Upton RBL).

GROUP H: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Steve Wheatland (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Wai Lee (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Peter Ebbins (Greenbaize).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS

LAST-16 (10 points): P Davis 2-0 Thomas, Hunter 2-0 Gumbrell, Jefferis 2-0 Brock, J Johnson 2-0 Ashton, Wallace 2-0 Palmer, C Davis 2-1 Greenham, Wheatland 2-0 Dent, Pusser 2-0 Hatfield.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £10): P Davis 2-1 Hunter, J Johnson 2-0 Jefferis, Wallace 2-1 C Davis, Pusser 2-0 Wheatland.

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £30): P Davis 2-1 J Johnson, Wallace 2-0 Pusser.

FINAL (25/18 pts, £140/£70): Wallace 2-0 P Davis.

Picture: Martin Wallace (left) and Paul Davis

By Tim Dunkley and Chris Wyatt