Asten victorious after week in Spain

ASTEN Sahota collected his first winner’s trophy on the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour the day after returning from holiday in Spain.

The nine-year-old from Southampton made the decision to travel to south London despite only arriving home the previous evening.

Sahota defeated debutant Zach Moritz (Pinner) 2-1 in the final of the third leg at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, helped by a 24 break in the deciding frame.

“It feels nice,” he said. “But I was very nervous going into it.”

The talented youngster from Chandlers Ford Snooker Club now has an outright lead of 13 points over his club-mate Caden Read at the top of the rankings.

Sahota, who is mentored by England international Oliver Sykes, overcame Jaydon Elliott (Swindon) 2-0 in the last-four.

Rhys Pearce (Waterlooville) beat event-one winner Harry Goddard (Yorks) 2-0 in the last-eight to reach his first semi-final in only his second outing on the junior circuit.

Moritz edged Pearce 2-0, with both frames going to the final black, in the last-four.

And many congratulations to Casey Turner (Brighton) for winning his first Cuestars match. He beat Ayan Roy (London) in the group stages of the tournament sponsored by the host club.

Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the fourth leg of six on Sunday, September 12.

BREAKS

Asten Sahota: 24, 20.
Zain Jeraj: 23.
Jack Mullen: 23.
Zach Moritz: 22.
Jaydon Elliott: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Rhys Pearce (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Thomas McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 4th, Alex Evans (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Jaydon Elliott (147 SC, Swindon); 3rd, Chris Bennett (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Casey Turner (Castle SC, Brighton); 5th, Ayan Roy (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Harry Goddard (Pocklington United Services Club); 2nd, Jack Mullen (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 3rd, Zach Moritz (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker); 5th, Dylan Beer (Chandlers Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Sahota 2-0 Bennett, Elliott 2-1 Mullen, Moritz 2-0 Read, Pearce 2-0 Goddard.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Sahota 2-0 Elliott, Moritz 2-0 Pearce.

FINAL (25/18 points): Sahota 2-1 Moritz.

Picture by Tim Dunkley

From left: Zach Moritz, Tony Thompson (Frames Sports Bar owner), Asten Sahota.