Silver champion Caden holds his nerve on re-spotted black

CADEN Read survived a nerve-jangling re-spotted black to claim the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour Championship in Swindon.

Spectators at Jesters Snooker Club thought the 13-year-old from Chandlers Ford was home and hosed in the third-frame decider of the final against Lee Clayden.

Read had built up a 40-point lead with six reds remaining before his opponent from Chingford produced a contender for fluke of the season.

Clayden’s attempted power shot on the black missed the intended pocket, took three of the five reds near cushions into the open and disappeared into the opposite middle pocket.

With the scores level, Clayden went for a cut on the re-spotted black into the left-hand corner pocket but left it short and Read pounced on the gift.

Read, who was appearing in his first Silver Tour final, said: “I feel amazing. But it was hard. I was nervous and shaking.”

The left-hander received his trophy from guest professional Joe Perry.

Clayden had a day to remember. Opting to move up a tier ahead of his automatic promotion from Bronze for the 2024/25 season, he beat Read en route to winning his round-robin group and defeated Christopher Woodward (Chandler’s Ford) in the last-four.

Read prevailed 2-0 against Tom McEvoy (Warminster) in the second semi. McEvoy recorded the day’s highest break of 40.

The event was sponsored by Jesters SC (www.jesterssnooker.co.uk).

BREAKS

Tom McEvoy: 40, 30.
Ellise Scott: 31.
Lee Clayden: 31.
Mason Wilson: 30.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 4th, Ayan Roy (Frames, Coulsdon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Tom McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Ellise Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Lennon Savage (Salisbury SC).

SEMI-FINALS: Clayden 2-0 Woodward, Read 2-0 McEvoy.

FINAL: Read 2-1 Clayden.