Harrison follows in the footsteps of Jimmy White

A FORMER Cuestars junior has won the English Amateur Championship.

Last year’s runner-up Ben Harrison (pictured), who was guest of honour at Finals Day in May, said it was “unbelievable” looking at the names of the previous winners on the magnificent 96-year-old trophy.

The 23-year-old from Hawkeridge, near Westbury, defeated Ant Parsons, from Middlesbrough, 10-6 in the final at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.

“It means so much to me,” he told cuestars.co.uk. “I spent about 10 minutes just looking at the names on that trophy at the end and I can’t quite believe that mine is on there with the likes of Ray Reardon, John Spencer, Jimmy White, etc.

“It’s unbelievable really.”

Earlier, Harrison had been 3-0 down to newly-qualified professional Michael Georgiou in the southern final.

“It was embarrassing,” he said. “After that I totally relaxed and I was just concentrating on enjoying my game. I ended up winning five frames in a row (to prevail 8-6).”

Parsons, docked a frame in the national final for arriving late, took a 2-1 lead but Harrison went into the break with a slim advantage.

“It was nip and tuck but I really stepped it up when I came out after the first session at 5-4 up,” said Harrison.

“I ended being 8-5 up after that mini session and that gave me some breathing space.

“I really impressed myself with the way I handled the pressure in the last frame.”

An EASB spokesman said Harrison was “unplayable” in the second session.

For his walk-on music, Harrison chose DJ Snake’s Turn Down For What (a popular tune with the younger generation, m’lud).

“It’s just a fun song and it’s a bit different,” he explained. “I always said I wanted to bring personality into the game so I thought that would be fun.”

What would be even more fun would be hearing that music at the Crucible.