Triple champion makes history

A 13-YEAR-OLD from Eastleigh has claimed a unique hat-trick of snooker titles.

As previously reported, Luke Beebe, last season’s Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings winner, is only the third player to be crowned champion of both age groups in the Eastleigh & District Junior Leagues in the same season.

And now he has made history by pocketing the £250 top prize in the Saturday afternoon Open Series 16 at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, a feat never achieved by the other two (Olly Clark and Mickey Joyce).

The teenager, who also won Series 15, ended the 26-week handicapped competition 17 points clear of Austen Petty, the Series 12 champion in 2012, who collected £200.

During the series, Beebe increased his highest break to 59 and Petty, 16, upped his to 64. A total of 78 breaks of 30 or more were scored. Petty led the way with 17.

The top eight ranked players earned a share of £850. Series 17 started on Saturday.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley. Prize winners, from left: Karan Chadda (Chilworth) £20, Austen Petty (Boyatt Wood) £200, Luke Beebe (Eastleigh) £250, Mark Beebe (Freemantle) £150, Jamie Wilson (Portsmouth) £30, Christopher Brown (Romsey) £60. Not pictured: Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford) £100, Pete Jordan (Bitterne) £40.