A moment to cherish for Riley
IT WAS a magic moment that a 12-year-old snooker player from Wiltshire had been dreaming about for 15 months.
Riley Ellis proudly held aloft his first winner’s trophy on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour after his success in the fifth leg.
It was journey that the young potter from Lyneham had embarked upon following an article in the Swindon Advertiser in May, 2015.
The story was spotted online by Southampton-based World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, who contacted the newspaper and invited Ellis to compete on the Cuestars circuit.
Playing in his 13th tournament, Ellis edged home player Adam Cowdroy 2-1 in the final at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth.
First-time finalist Cowdroy took the opening frame, went in-off the black in the next but was chasing snookers on the blue in the decider.
Ellis had knocked out travelling companion and rankings leader Shane Kearns 2-1 in the last-four after topping his five-man round-robin group.
He said: “I was really impressed that I managed to overcome some good players.
“Before I even came here, I wanted to win. It was hard work but definitely worth it
“It was really important (beating Kearns) because it’s been my target for a long time. I always lose to him but today I overcame that.”
Ellis, who is based at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, along with Kearns, climbed to second place in the rankings following the Bell’s Decor-sponsored event.
Earlier, there was a dramatic finish to one of the groups. Essex lad Thomas Saunders lost his first two matches and needed to beat Ellis and Chloe White, winner of the third leg in Swindon, to force a three-way play-off for the second qualifying spot.
Saunders produced the goods against the high-flying pair and then won the play-off against White (Havant) and her brother Callum before going out 2-1 to Cowdroy in the semi-finals.
The sixth leg of ten is at Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant, on Sunday, February 5.
For more information about Poole-based decorating contractor Bell’s Decor, go to www.bellsdecor.co.uk.
BREAKS
Shane Kearns: 30.
Thomas Saunders: 21.
Riley Ellis: 20.
BRONZE RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Riley Ellis (Jesters, Swindon); 2nd, Thomas Saunders (Stepfield SC, Witham, Essex); 3rd, Chloe White (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 4th, Callum White (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 5th, Harry Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Adam Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Ronnie Sullivan (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Will Forster (Mayfair, Gosport); 5th, Josh Reeves (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Ellis 2 Kearns 1, Cowdroy 2 Saunders 1.
FINAL (25/18 points): Ellis 2 Cowdroy 1.
Pictures by Tim Dunkley
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)