Charlton books Leicester spot

SURREY potter Jon Charlton has booked a place in the national finals of The Malcolm Thorne Memorial Snooker Open.

The 2012 and 2013 Cuestars South of England Championship Tour rankings winner (pictured left) had his scoring boots on in the southern qualifier at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, Croydon.

Charlton – who is based at Selsey Royal British Legion, near Bognor Regis, but lives in Haslemere – added to his six breaks of more than 40 in the group stages with runs of 48 and 59 in a 3-2 qualifying round victory over Sam Harvey.

He said: “After being drawn in a very tough group, I knew I was going to have to play very well to have any chance of qualifying.

“Both my safety play and consistency of scoring heavily throughout the matches was what got me through.

“It was a great day, really good matches and some of the best snooker I have played this season so far. I hope I can take that form into the finals day next year.”

The competition is named in memory of the EASB’s former media officer, Malcolm Thorne, who died in 2011 aged 60.

Malcolm, the brother of ex-professional and esteemed commentator Willie Thorne, managed Mark Selby for a while and ran tournaments in Leicester and Coalville that became the go-to events for all young players with aspirations of making a career in snooker.

Eight qualifiers from three regions will join eight invited professionals for the last-16 at The Winchester, Leicester, next May.