Benzey triumphs on “unreal” day

HE STARTED the 11-hour day as fourth favourite and ended it as champion.

Eastleigh teenager Connor Benzey (pictured) knew he had to win his first tournament on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour to stand any chance of claiming the rankings title.

On what was described as an “unreal” day at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, the in-form, hard-working and totally dedicated 14-year-old marched on triumphantly with his head held high as his rivals fell away one by one.

Seven players went into the eighth and final leg of the tightest ever season with a realistic chance of clinching top spot.

David Rice (Fordingbridge), Olly Gibbs (Gosport) and rankings leader Aidan Murphy (Bristol) made group-stage exits.

In three dramatic and tension-filled quarter-finals, second-placed Steven Hughes (Chandler’s Ford) lost 2-1 on the final black to clubmate Charlie Pringle, third-placed Oliver Sykes, also based at the home club, went out 2-1 to James Beaven (Banstead) and Drew Hampshire (Swindon) lost 2-1 to fourth-placed Benzey.

This meant that Benzey had to win the final or Hughes, last season’s Bronze rankings winner, would complete a unique double.

He beat David O’Callaghan (Bournemouth) 2-0 and first-time finalist Pringle 2-0. Benzey said it felt “good” and simply added: “I knew I had to win the tournament to actually win it.”

Dad Mark, an England pool international and former Southampton snooker Town Champion, said: “It was unreal. I was totally amazed at what he did.”

Sponsored by Pitman Training Winchester, Benzey won the Bronze Tour championship play-off last season but had lost all three of his previous ranking event finals.

The top-16 ranked players qualify for the championship play-off on Finals Day at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday, May 15. Professional Kurt Maflin will present prizes and play exhibition frames against all the rankings winners, weekend section champions and play-off champions.

BREAKS

Connor Benzey: 38.
David Rice: 35.
Oliver Sykes: 34.
Aidan Murphy: 30.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Steven Hughes (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Keegan Reed (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Kaine Petty (Salisbury SC); 4th, David Rice (Salisbury SC); 5th, Nat Kidner (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Drew Hampshire (147 SC, Swindon); 3rd, Aidan Murphy (Fishponds Cons, Bristol); 4th, Harry Jones (Frames, Coulsdon); 5th, Adam Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Connor Benzey (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, James Beaven (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 3rd, Ally Pollard (Salisbury SC); 4th, Olly Gibbs (Chandler’s Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, David O’Callaghan (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Charlie Pringle (Chandler’s Ford SC); 3rd, Evan Plummer (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 4th, Abhay Chopra (Chandler’s Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Pringle 2 Hughes 1, Beaven 2 Sykes 1, Benzey 2 Hampshire 1, O’Callaghan 2 Reed 0.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Pringle 2 Beaven 1, Benzey 2 O’Callaghan 0.

FINAL (25/18 points): Benzey 2 Pringle 0.

Pictures and Report by Tim Dunkley