Ellis claims Bronze rankings title

WILTSHIRE potter Riley Ellis has claimed his first major regional snooker title.

The 12-year-old has been crowned the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings champion with a tournament to spare.

Ellis, from Clyffe Pypard, near Royal Wootton Bassett, went into the ninth leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club needing to better the performance of title rival Shane Kearns to clinch first place.

Despite an early scare, he rose to the occasion and eventually lost in the final after Kearns had made a last-four exit in the event sponsored by Pitman Training Winchester.

“I didn’t really feel anything but it’s kicking in now,” he said. “I’m just really happy that I managed to win it.”

Ellis topped his five-man round-robin group despite losing one match to eight-year-old O’Shay Scott (Chandler’s Ford).

That setback meant he had to beat Thomas Saunders (Braintree) to qualify for the knockout.

Defeat would have opened the door for Kearns to close the gap and set up a tense final event in Salisbury.

But the youngster stepped up a gear and overcame the Essex lad with breaks of 30 and 27 in the one-frame match.

He then had to beat women’s world number 42 Chloe White, 15, in the semi-finals to virtually guarantee the title.

Ellis described the 2-1 victory as “a good battle”. Minutes before that concluded, Kearns lost 2-1 at the same stage to Ronnie Sullivan (Coulsdon), who went on to edge Ellis 2-1 in the final.

Reflecting on promotion to the Silver Tour, Ellis said: “I’m looking forward to it. But I know it’s going to be hard.”

Ellis, whose highest break is 38, picked up winner’s trophies in Bournemouth, Havant and Swindon this season.

He finished fourth in his debut campaign last year and has only once failed to reach the knockout in 17 tournaments.

Second-placed Kearns has a ten-point lead over White (Havant) going into the last leg.

Picture by Tim Dunkley

Have you got any snooker news?

Send me your snooker news now. It doesn’t have to be from a Cuestars tournament. E-mail me details or contact me via Facebook and you could be on the Cuestars website and in your local newspaper. E-mail: [email protected].

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)