A week in the life of Oliver Sykes

NINE-year-old Oliver Sykes dominated the Autumn Half-Term Cup at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

The classy left-hander ended five days of competition 15 points ahead of Bowen Zhu, 11.

“I’m really happy with how I performed throughout the week and I’m pleased that I kept my composure through the vital last day,” said Sykes, who also won this year’s Ken Jones May Half-Term Cup.

“This week has been great for me and I’m happy about what I’ve achieved.”

In fact, it was a great seven days for the youngster.

He followed that success by compiling breaks of 42 and 37 in the Eastleigh & District Under-13 League, reaching the week-nine final of the Open Series and making the semi-finals of only his second tournament on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour in Swindon.

The next school holiday competition with World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley is the Christmas Cup. Activities include the Cuestars Coaching Programme, billiards, snooker cricket and handicapped snooker.

2015 Autumn Half-Term Cup final rankings: Oliver Sykes 65 pts, Bowen Zhu 50, Harry Joyce 48.5, Connor Benzey 34, Steven Hughes 29, Oli Line 27.5, Reece Allen 25, Ryan Hughes 20, Riley Ellis 17.5, Charlie Wood 11, Callum Short 10.5, Harvey Banger 9, Ally Pollard 5, Lewis Aisthorpe-Buckley 2.

Picture and report by Tim Dunkley: Final day line-up, from left: Steven Hughes, Charlie Wood, Bowen Zhu, Oliver Sykes, Ryan Hughes, Harry Joyce, Connor Benzey.