Abbas blazes a trail for the Castle Club juniors

BRIGHTON’S budding snooker star Adam Abbas said he feels “very proud” to have made history for the junior section at the Castle Club.

The ten-year-old wrote his name into the records book by winning the sixth leg of the Under-21 Bronze Tour in south London.

Although clubmate Gus Walker won the plate competition for non-qualifiers in Havant last month, WPBSA coach Kai Michael’s stable has never triumphed in any of the three main events since making their debut just over three years ago.

Abbas, who was runner-up in Swindon in December, beat debutant Jamie Hogg (Stevenage) 2-0 in the final after a long day at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

Reflecting on his achievement, he said: “That makes me feel very proud.

“I’ve been playing all right today but it’s been very tiring.”

Abbas, who recently made a personal best 53 in a practice match, recorded his highest competitive break of 32 against Walker in the round-robin group stage.

Perhaps practising five or six times a week does bring its rewards.

Abbas added: “I figured out that practice is very helpful.

“I started practising a lot more – but we usually skip Wednesdays.”

All six legs this season have been won by different players.

Beaten semi-finalist Lennon Savage (Southampton) remains top of the rankings from his Chandlers Ford clubmate Christopher Woodward. Donnie Gola (Islington) is third and Abbas is fourth.

For more information about event sponsor Frames Sports Bar, go to www.facebook.com/FramesSportsBarCoulsdon/.

Woking Snooker Centre hosts the seventh leg of ten on Sunday, February 19.

BREAKS

Adam Abbas: 32, 25, 24.
Christopher Woodward: 24.
Gus Walker: 23.
William Hurley: 23.
Tyler Beer: 22, 22.
Lennon Savage: 21, 21.
Jamie Hogg: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Ryan Collins (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Rayan El Qmache (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Alex Evans (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Jamie Hogg (Frank’s, Hatfield); 2nd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Harrison Blakeman-Knock (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Louie Ayling (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club, Islington); 2nd, Zac Perrie (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Gus Holdaway (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Fabian Bernal (Paddock Wood Social Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Matthew Jameson (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, William Hurley (Lanes Sports Bar, Rayleigh); 4th, Marshal Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting); 5th, Yousuf Matib (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP E: 1st, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Casey Turner (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Oliver Li (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Dan Toogood; 5th, Dylan Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP F: 1st, Adam Abbas (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 3rd, Gus Walker (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Brett Knight (Castle SC, Brighton); 5th, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC).

LAST-16 (10 points): Savage 1-0 Hurley, Woodward 1-0 Clayden, Abbas 1-0 Perrie, Beer 1-0 Walker, Gola 1-0 Li, Donnelly 1-0 Jameson, Turner 1-0 Collins, Hogg 1-0 El Qmache.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Savage 2-1 Woodward, Abbas 2-0 Beer, Gola 2-0 Donnelly, Hogg 2-0 Turner.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Abbas 2-1 Savage, Hogg 2-0 Gola.

FINAL (25/18 points): Abbas 2-0 Hogg.