11-year-old regains Under-19 title

A RELIEVED Mickey Joyce (pictured) has regained the Eastleigh & District Under-19 Premier title.

It appeared a formality for the 11-year-old from Basingstoke to win just one frame in the remaining two weeks to mathematically make it certain.

But defeats by Steven Hughes, Connor Benzey and Abhay Chopra in his first three week-19 matches focused his mind.

Joyce avoided a final week nail-biter by beating Ryan Hughes in his last game at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

“Phew,” exclaimed last season’s Cuestars Silver Tour rankings winner, who is sponsored by Surrey-based Falcon Pools and The Academy in Basingstoke.

He won his previous Under-19 title at the age of ten and described this campaign as “hard”.

Bronze Tour title contender Steven Hughes secured the runners-up spot.

Joyce is in Year 7 at Fort Hill Community School, Winklebury, and has won virtually all his matches so far this season for the Academy Potters who play in Division 1 of the Basingstoke & District Snooker League.

Meanwhile, Jamie Wilson tightened his grip on the Under-13 Premier title. But Benzey does have a lifeline, going into the final week.

Benzey needs to gain four points and four frames on the Portsmouth potter to tie. Then the title would be decided on head-to-head results this season.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.