Desire and determination steers Hughes to Silver title
A WILL to win almost unparalleled on the junior snooker circuit drove Steven Hughes to the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour Championship title.
The 14-year-old from Chandler’s Ford (pictured with Kurt Maflin) was a man on a mission as he sliced through a high-quality field during the end-of-season play-off at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.
Hughes, who finished second in the rankings following the eight-leg season, dropped just one frame out of 15 in seven victories.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” he declared.
“I came short in the rankings and I thought I’ve just GOT to try to win it. Luckily I did.
“I’m so happy I’ve won today. I can go home a happy man.”
Hughes topped his five-man group and accounted for three other Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club members with 2-0 scorelines in the knockout.
First up was ten-year-old Oliver Sykes, then rankings winner Connor Benzey followed by Olly Gibbs, who won the Bronze Tour Championship in 2014, in the final Gibbs went in-off into the middle pocket and left an easy frame-ball pink in baulk to gift Hughes the lead.
And in the second frame, Hughes clawed back a deficit with a 20 break to the blue. His 12-year-old opponent from Gosport then potted the pink but missed the frame-ball black off its spot, which Hughes sunk with the rest.
“I had to play it with the rest because I didn’t want to stretch and risk miscuing,” explained Hughes. “I’m not the best rest player but it was plum.”
And the newly-elected member of the Student Leadership Team at The Toynbee School added: “I want to say a massive thanks to Vankru Cycling for sponsoring me and for (coach) Tim Dunkley because without the two of them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
The result was a reversal of last season’s Bronze Tour when Hughes won the rankings title and Benzey claimed the Championship.
World number 50 Kurt Maflin presented the trophies.
BREAKS
Connor Benzey: 46, 33, 30.
Aidan Murphy: 44, 36, 32.
David O’Callaghan: 31.
David Rice: 31.
Charlie Pringle: 30.
SILVER RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Connor Benzey (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Olly Gibbs (Chandler’s Ford SC); 3rd, Charlie Pringle (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Keegan Reed (Salisbury SC); 5th, Adam Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Steven Hughes (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Drew Hampshire (147 SC, Swindon); 3rd, Harry Jones (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, David O’Callaghan (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Kaine Petty (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Aidan Murphy (Fishponds Cons, Bristol); 2nd, Oliver Sykes (Chandler’s Ford SC); 3rd, Nat Kidner (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth); 4th, Ally Pollard (Salisbury SC); 5th, David Rice (Salisbury SC).
QUARTER-FINALS: Benzey 2 Jones 1, Hughes 2 Sykes 0, Murphy 2 Pringle 0, Gibbs 2 Hampshire 0.
SEMI-FINALS: Hughes 2 Benzey 0, Gibbs 2 Murphy 1.
FINAL: Hughes 2 Gibbs 0.
Pictures by Tim Dunkley
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