Eight-year-old makes first half-century break

CUESTARS Bronze Tour player William Thomson has written his name into the Chandlers Ford Snooker Club records book – not for the first time in his career and, I wager, not the last.

William, who celebrated his eighth birthday at the beginning of June during lockdown, knocked in his new high break of 52 (which, he admitted, contained one fluke) against Toby Phillips on Table 5 in the first frame after lunch on Day 21 of the Rotary Summer Cup.

For the record, the phenomenal Shane Castle, against whom any talented youngster in the club is always measured, made his first competitive half century of 61 at the age of nine years and three months.

Earlier this surreal summer, William beat his highest break for the first time since lockdown with a 36 AND he completed the seventh of the standard levels of the Cuestars Academy.

World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley runs junior competitions on every weekday during every school holiday, from 11am-3pm at a cost of £6. No pre-registration is required.

Tim said: “It never ceases to amaze me what the boys and girls achieve when they play on most days during the holidays.

“The really surprising thing about William’s break today was that it wasn’t a massive surprise. He just gets through the ball beautifully and always has done. It’s purely natural.”

Picture by Tim Dunkley