Cuestars trio promoted
THREE Cuestars members have been promoted to the elite national tour for the country’s best 48 under-21 players.
Aylesbury ace Sonnie O’Sullivan and Gosport whizz kid Mark Lloyd ended the eight-leg EASB Regional Junior Tour South with identical points.
They finished joint second with 1,081 points each.
As previously reported, Thomas Lancastle (Bristol), the 2012/13 Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour rankings winner, had clinched top spot after the sixth leg.
Fears that only two would join the EASB Premier Junior Tour next season were dispelled by an EASB spokesman who told <i>cuestars.co.uk</i>: “Three players are being promoted.”
O’Sullivan, who finished joint sixth on the Gold Tour this year, pocketed £100 for seeing off Lloyd 2-1 in the final of the last leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.
The 17-year-old said: “I roughly knew coming into the tournament that if I did better than Dan Knox (Ascot) I would make it into the top three and if I did better than Mark Lloyd I would probably go above him.
“But my main aim was trying to win it and give myself the best chance possible.
“The final was really enjoyable as I just finished my semi-final match when I saw Mark knock Dan Knox out in the other semi.
“Me and Mark have played good matches this season and always gone close and this was another.
“It was a good feeling finishing the season with a win, especially the way it started (failing to qualify from the group stages in the first three events).”
Lloyd, 14, who shared this season’s Gold Tour title with Bradley Chappell and won the Championship play-off, said: “It could’ve gone either way. Sonnie played well though.”
Players are awarded one ranking point for each frame they win in a knockout match that they lose (in an attempt by organisers to avoid ties).
Both finalists are looking forward to the challenge next season but agree that life with the big boys won’t be easy.
O’Sullivan said: “I’m really happy. Next season will be tough but I’ll work hard over the summer and give it my best shot.”
And Lloyd added: “I’m pleased that I’m up. I’ve just got to improve ready for the new season.
“Good luck to the people who are promoted as well. It was an enjoyable season.”
Elsewhere, Bronze rankings winner Luke Beebe qualified for the knockout for the first time in only his second event.
The 12-year-old from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club beat Jonny Mutch (Cambridge) 2-1 on the final black in his last group match. As the pair had identical records, Beebe went through on the head-to-head rule but lost 2-0 to O’Sullivan in the last-eight.
Earlier, Mutch, 14, had compiled his first half-century, a 50 in the second frame of a fine 2-1 victory over Lloyd.
Sam Storey (Newbury) was beaten only by Lancastle as, for the first time this season, he progressed to the quarter-finals where he went down 2-0 to Lloyd.
Knox had to settle for fourth place and an invite to the play-off at the Midlands Snooker Academy, Walsall, on June 15, where those from the three regions who finished just outside the automatic promotion spots compete for the rest of the available places.
Picture by Bob Lancastle: Mark Lloyd (left) and Thomas Lancastle.
Report by Tim Dunkley.