One for the notebook

A TEN-year-old lad from Southampton who had only played on full-sized tables on four previous occasions claimed the February Half-Term Junior Cup at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club

Abhay Chopra ended 20 hours of skills training and competition, spread over five days, as the number-one ranked youngster from a 15-strong field.

“Even if I hadn’t won it, it was really fun,” he said. “I enjoyed it.”

Although Chopra has been honing his skills on a small table at home since the age of six, he had only played on a 12 foot version once at the Baizz Club in Castle Way and three times in the Eastleigh & District Under-13 League at Chandler’s Ford SC.

The Bitterne Manor Primary School pupil also increased his high break to 22 during the week-long competition.

Surely it won’t be long before Chopra’s name appears in the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings.

Picture by Tim Dunkley:

Final day line-up, from left: Ryan Hughes (runner-up), Harvey Banger, Oli Line, Abhay Chopra (champion), Aidan Moss, Henry Thomas, Sam Warren.