Cuestars pair achieve goals at the Belgian Women’s Open

CUESTARS Under-21 Gold Tour player Chloe White and snookermum Jackie Ellis both achieved their goals at the Belgian Women’s Open.

White progressed from a tough group to the knockout and Ellis didn’t finish bottom of her group and picked up the Seniors runner-up trophy.

White climbed to number 21 in the world rankings despite missing most of last season.

The 18-year-old from Havant lost her opening round-robin match at The Trickshot, Bruges, 2-0 to Emma Parker (Hornchurch, London).

Both frames against the world number seven went to the last few colours.

Knowing she needed a good result going into her next match, White went 1-0 down to Melissa Eens (Belgium).

But she came back from needing a snooker in the decider to clinch a crucial 2-1 victory.

Decisive 2-0 successes over Carine Caron (Belgium) and Andrea McAlister (Northern Ireland) then earned White the runner-up spot in the group.

Unfortunately, she drew Parker again in the last-16 knockout and went down 3-0.

She said: “I didn’t feel as though I ever got my arm in.

“I was disappointed with how the match went as I felt as though I didn’t have the opportunity to give it my all.”

White also lost in the first rounds of the Challenge Cup and the Under-21 event.

But she said: “Overall, I am pleased the most with my performance in the main competition.

“I exceeded my expectations by progressing through my group, knowing that it was going to be tough.”

White is now looking forward to her next event on the World Women’s Snooker tour in Leeds in April.

Meanwhile, Ellis, who hails from the village of Clyffe Pypard near Royal Wootton Bassett, was delighted with the way she progressed through the over-40’s event.

The world number 18 came back from 1-0 down to record a 2-1 success over 70-year-old Nicole Derycke, who works behind the bar at the club.

And she then overcame Annamaria Wilkins (Hungary) in a high-pressure third-frame decider.

After a four-hour wait, the 53-year-old lost 2-0 to Caty Dehaene (Belgium).

Ellis, who is now third in the Seniors rankings, said: “I was really chuffed to hold it together in the semi-final.”

It was her third Seniors runner-up trophy since she made her debut on the world stage in 2017.

Earlier, in the main competition, Ellis achieved her goal of not finishing last in her five-strong round-robin group by beating Emma Brown (England) 2-1.

She said: “It was a really tough group but my goal was not to be bottom.”

Picture of Chloe White by Matt Huart (WPBSA)

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)