Mason fires in first half-century

A BASINGSTOKE teenage has passed the major milestone of a half-century break in a snooker competition.

Mason Wilson’s landmark moment came in the opening leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour at Salisbury Snooker Club.

The 14-year-old kept his nerve to pot the black for 51 in the first frame of his third group-stage match against Londoner John Donovan.

Explaining how much the achievement meant to him, Wilson said: “It felt amazing. I couldn’t believe it when it finally came.

“I was very nervous when I got near but I just said to myself take one ball at a time and think that you are still on one.”

Wilson won that match 2-0 to qualify for the knockout top of his group.

After beating Thomas Sharp (Portsmouth) 2-1 in the last-eight, he lost 2-0 to Riley Ellis (north Wilts) in the semi-finals.

Wilson – who is sponsored by Wayne Buckland and Tony Guy at his home club, The Academy, and Mick Sawkins from MISC Consulting – started playing the game just four years ago.

His next event is on October 6 at Waterlooville Sports Bar, which is where he made his Cuestars Bronze Tour debut two years ago.

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)