Good weekend’s work for Benzey
CONNOR Benzey reckons his excellent run on the Q Tour over the previous two days in Leicester helped him win the third leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour in south London.
The 19-year-old from Eastleigh made the day’s highest break and beat Mickey Joyce 2-0 in the final at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.
He collected £100 from club-owner and tournament sponsor Tony Thompson.
The previous day, Benzey recorded an excellent victory over European champion Oliver Brown to reach the last-32 of Q Tour event three.
He said: “I played steady all day. I knew I was cueing all right, coming from Q Tour yesterday.
“I lost my concentration in a couple of matches but managed to get over the line.”
Benzey made his highest Cuestars break of 122 in his second round-robin group-stage match against Archie McKellar (Basildon) on the professional standard table in the Surrey Room.
It was the second highest break ever recorded in the 13-year history of the Gold Tour.
Jamie Wilson (Havant), who holds the record with a 128 in 2019, knocked in a 110 against Steven Hughes (Chandler’s Ford).
Joyce had the consolation of taking over top spot in the rankings. In fact, the 18-year-old from Basingstoke is now the front-runner on two circuits as he also heads the Cuestars Championship Tour listings.
Riley Ellis (Clyffe Pypard, North Wilts) topped his group to qualify for his first knockout since gaining promotion after winning last season’s Silver Tour.
Benzey, who is now based at Waterlooville Sports Bar, thanked his sponsors – Devlin Cues, Mick Sawkins, Hillcrest Structural and GH Property Management – for their continued support.
For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.framessportsbar.co.uk/.
Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the fourth leg of eight on Sunday, February 13.
BREAKS
Connor Benzey: 122, 68, 56, 56.
Jamie Wilson: 110, 66.
Lee Whaley: 74, 50.
Oliver Sykes: 64, 54, 50.
Mickey Joyce: 63.
Evan Plummer: 53, 45, 44.
Ollie Briffett-Payne: 60, 42.
Steven Hughes: 40.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Lee Whaley (Cousins, London); 3rd, Richard Hillgrove (Basildon SC); 4th, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Connor Benzey (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 3rd, Archie McKellar (Basildon SC); 4th, William Harrison (Petworth RBL).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Ollie Briffett-Payne (Red Triangle SC, Newport); 3rd, Ronnie Sullivan (Dunstable SC); 4th, Jimmy Gregory (Sovereign, Farnborough).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Evan Plummer (Frames, Coulsdon); 3rd, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Elliott Johnson (London Snooker, Tooting).
QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Sykes 2-0 Briffett-Payne, Joyce 2-0 Wilson, Benzey 2-1 Plummer, Whaley 2-0 Ellis.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Joyce 2-0 Sykes, Benzey 2-1 Whaley.
FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Benzey 2-0 Joyce.
Picture, from left: Mickey Joyce, Tony Thompson, Connor Benzey.