Budd’s Premier Tour debut

JAMES Budd proved he can compete amongst England’s best 48 under-21 players by winning one of his four matches on his debut on the EASB Premier Junior Tour.

The 19-year-old from Fareham, who qualified for the elite circuit by winning the EASB Regional Junior Tour South last season, made a long journey short by flying to Leeds on the morning of the event.

But it meant he only had four hours’ sleep before the one-hour flight from Southampton Airport.

Cuestars Gold Tour player Budd lost his first match at the Northern Snooker Centre 3-2 on the final black to Russell Morgan (Bradford).

He nearly pinched a frame in a 3-0 defeat by the eventual tournament winner Joe O’Connor (Leicester), was “pleased” to beat Adam Morrey 3-2 after the Stockport cueman forced a decider with a 72 break out of nowhere and went down 3-1 to Matthew Glasby (Southend).

“I’m looking forward to the next event in Coulsdon,” he said. “Hopefully I can make the knockout stages.”

Sonnie O’Sullivan won one of his three matches. Ronnie Blake, who played in one Cuestars event last season, won one frame on his debut.

And English Under-16 champion and England international Mark Lloyd was extremely unlucky to finish third in his five-man group despite winning three of his four matches.

Report by Tim Dunkley.