Debut win for the remarkable Jack Smithers
An EPSOM-based England pool international who was given two hours to live as a premature baby enjoyed a winning debut on a regional snooker circuit.
Jack Smithers took full advantage of home tables at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, to clinch the third leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour.
The 20-year-old overcame a spirited performance by fellow left-hander Bradley Cowdroy to prevail 3-1 in the final on a professional-standard Star table.
“I wasn’t expecting to win it so it’s a bonus that I did,” he said “Bradley played well all day. He beat me earlier on in the group stages. Fair play to him.”
Smithers – who represented his country at pool at various junior levels for seven years since the age of 12 – spent the first 98 days of his life in hospital after being born 14 weeks early, just two weeks after the legal limit for an abortion, weighing 1lb 14oz. That’s less than a bag of sugar.
He is now playing snooker full time for a year and targeting Q School next May.
“Snooker is progressing more than pool and the prize money is a lot better,” he explained.
“My grandad helps me out (financially). I’ll see how I get on. If it works out, great.”
Cowdroy emerged from a high-quality 16-strong field with his young head held high.
The 13-year-old from Bournemouth beat Smithers, James Budd (Fareham) and Callum McDonald (Salisbury) to win his group, clawed back a two-frame deficit to overcome Callum Browne (Westbury) 3-2 in the last-eight and accounted for English Under-16 champion Mark Lloyd (Gosport) 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) recorded the day’s highest break of 70 against Matt Gillon (Gosport) in the group stages.
The fourth leg of eight is at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, on Sunday, January 10.
BREAKS
Anthony Rice: 70, 48.
Jack Smithers: 65.
Mark Lloyd: 55, 53, 45, 42, 40.
Mickey Joyce: 43.
Jamie Wilson: 43.
Brad Chappell: 42.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Brad Chappell (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Nathan Farmer (Stoke SC, Gosport); 4th, Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Jack Smithers (Frames, Coulsdon); 3rd, James Budd (Fareham SC); 4th, Callum McDonald (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Anthony Rice (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Callum Browne (Player’s, Westbury); 3rd, Ronnie Blake (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Matt Gillon (Stoke SC, Gosport).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Mickey Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 3rd, Jonny Mutch (Cambridge SC); 4th, Reece King (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).
QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Lloyd 3 Wilson 1, Cowdroy 3 Browne 2, Smithers 3 Rice 1, Chappell 3 Joyce 2.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Cowdroy 3 Lloyd 1, Smithers 3 Chappell 1.
FINAL (£50/£30 25/18 points): Smithers 3 Cowdroy 1.
Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.