No plain sailing for champion Craycraft

But it was no plain sailing for Craycraft (pictured) following an early exit in the final tournament of the ten-event series across the South of England.

The 35-year-old’s 3-1 defeat by Salisbury teenager James Bolton in the last 16 at Jesters SC, Swindon, left three players with a chance of nicking top spot from the ranking leader.

Needing to win the final, Portsmouth pair Dennis Hushley and Dion Baker both lost in the last 16 and Reading’s Dean Matthews went out in the quarter-finals.

Runner-up Nathan Williams, who collected £150, did not compete at Swindon. Third-placed Hushley picked up £100.

Craycraft, who plays out of the 147 Snooker Club in Swindon, also finished 75th on the Pontin’s International Open Series – the main feeder for the pro-circuit.

Meanwhile, Phil Wildman pocketed £80 after winning the final.

The Reading cueman posted breaks of 95 and 60 in a 3-0 victory over Fareham’s Matthew Hannan.

Wildman, who finished 12th in the rankings, made runs of 82 and 83 against Sam Jefferson in the last 16 and added a 63 against James Bolton in the last eight.

Aldershot’s Vernon Li chalked up 73, 59 and 69 in just three frames against Alan Mitchell.

Wildman’s victory means each of the ten Cuestars Open events this season have produced different winners. Marc Harman, Neil Herd, Nick Birney, Williams, Craycraft, James Sumner, Sebastian Worrall, Billy Castle and Shane Castle all have one victory each.

Phil Wildman: 95, 83, 82, 63, 60

Vernon Li: 73, 69, 59

LAST 32 (three points): Ron Ellis (Burgh Heath, Surrey) bt Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 3-0, Liam Tinne (Salisbury SC) bt Paul Rose (Jesters SC, Swindon) 3-0, Matt James (Castle SC, Fareham) bt Alan Childs (Salisbury SC) 3-0, Marc Harman (Wimbledon) bt Liam O’Shea (Jesters SC, Swindon) 3-1, Mark Silvester (Cowplain Club) bt Lewis Miles (Jesters SC, Swindon) 3-0, Dean Matthews (Rileys, Reading) bt David Volante (Jesters SC, Swindon) 3-0, Dion Baker (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) bt Ryan Merrigan (London) 3-0.

LAST 16 (five points): Ellis bt Tinne 3-0, Harman bt James 3-1, Matthews bt Silvester 3-1, Matthew Hannan (Castle SC, Fareham) bt Baker 3-1, Vernon Li (Rileys, Aldershot) bt Alan Mitchell (no club provided) 3-0, Jason Corney (Perivale, Middlesex) bt Dennis Hushley (Copnor SC, Portsmouth) 3-1, Phil Wildman (Colours, Reading) bt Sam Jefferson (Jesters SC, Swindon) 3-0, James Bolton (Salisbury SC) bt Neil Craycraft (147, Swindon) 3-1.

QUARTER-FINALS (eight points): Harman bt Ellis 3-1, Harman bt Matthews 3-1, Li bt Corney 3-2, Wildman bt Bolton.

SEMI-FINALS (12 points – £10): Hannan bt Harman 3-1, Wildman bt Li 3-1.

FINAL (25/18 points – £80/£40): Wildman bt Hannan 3-0.

LAST 16: Hushley bt Mitchell.

QUARTER-FINALS: Hushley bt Childs, Jefferson bt Craycraft, Rose bt Volante, Merrigan bt O’Shea 2-0.

SEMI-FINALS (one point): Hushley bt Jefferson, Merrigan bt Rose.

FINAL (five/three points – £10/£5): Hushley bt Merrigan 2-0.

Final rankings – top ten: Neil Craycraft, 82 points, £250; Nathan Williams, 74, £150; Dennis Hushley, 71, £100; Dion Baker, 69; Dean Matthews, 68; Ron Ellis, 60; Mark Silvester, 59; David Volante, 58; Marc Harman, 57; Nick Birney, 56.