Karl in seventh heaven

KARL Townsend has won his seventh tournament in under two years on the Cuestars Masters Tour.

The Northolt cueist edged first-time finalist David Moritz 2-1 in south London to clinch the third leg of the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over.

Moritz (Pinner) can consider himself a tad unfortunate in the deciding frame after screwing back nine feet with the half-butt only for the cue-ball to land behind the green resulting in a snooker on the yellow.

Townsend recorded six breaks of 40 or more during the event at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon. But John Rees (Ware, Herts) took the honours with a 53.

Only five points now separate the top five in the rankings. Moritz and Andy Norman (Brighton), who was knocked out in the last eight by Neil Carroll (Southampton), jointly lead the table. Townsend is two points adrift in third.

Tournament director John Hunter said: “Everyone enjoyed the fantastic playing conditions.

“Big thanks to Frames owner Tony Thompson for sponsoring the event and the staff for making all the players so welcome.”

Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the fourth leg of ten on Wednesday, November 27.

To find out more the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk.

BREAKS

John Rees: 52.
Karl Townsend: 48, 48, 48, 45, 41, 40.
Ashley Beal: 45, 43.
Andy Norman: 43.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, John Rees (Lyonsdown SC); 3rd, Mark Evans (Crucible, Reading); 4th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Karl Townsend (Rickmansworth RBL); 2nd, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 4th, Steve Russell (Eastcote Billiards Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Ashley Beal (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 4th, Kevin Morris (Woking SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 2nd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Al Maher (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Gavin Bolsover (Woking SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (10 pts): Carroll 2-1 Norman, Moritz 2-0 Thomas, Townsend 2-0 Burt, Beal 2-1 Rees.

SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Moritz 2-1 Carroll, Townsend 2-0 Beal.

FINAL (£80/£40, 25/18 pts): Townsend 2-1 Moritz.

Picture: David Moritz (left) and Karl Townsend.