Havant winner Ellis leads Bronze

BACK-to-back snooker tournament wins have taken Wiltshire potter Riley Ellis to first place on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour.

The 12-year-old from Lyneham followed up last month’s success in Bournemouth with victory in the sixth leg at Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant.

Ellis overcame first-time finalist Ronnie Sullivan 2-0 to collect his second successive winner’s trophy in the event sponsored by Trevor Sanders Snooker & Pool Table Services.

“It was definitely important to win today,” said Ellis, who replaces group-stage casualty Shane Kearns, his clubmate from Jesters SC, Swindon, at the top of the rankings.

“I took elements from the last tournament and brought them into this one, like potting different balls and playing much better safety.”

Sullivan (Coulsdon) topped his group to qualify for the knockout for the first time and defeated women’s world number 44 Chloe White (Havant) 2-0 in the last-four.

Competing in his ninth Bronze Tour event, 12-year-old Harry Joyce (Eastleigh) beat Kearns to qualify for the knockout for the first time and led Ellis 1-0 in the semis before losing 2-1.

Ellis admitted: “I didn’t think I’d get as far as I did because Harry is a really good potter but he gave me a few chances.”

And on his Cuestars debut, eight-year-old O’Shay Scott (Chandler’s Ford) beat Ellis, made a 20 break in his victory over William Forster (Gosport) and only missed out on the semis on the head-to-head rule.

For more information about Trevor Sanders Snooker & Pool Table Services, visit www.sanderspooltables.co.uk/.

The seventh leg of ten is at Fareham Snooker Club on Sunday, February 26.

BREAKS

Riley Ellis: 21, 20.
O’Shay Scott: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Riley Ellis (Jesters, Swindon); 2nd, Chloe White (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 3rd, Callum White (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 4th, O’Shay Scott (Chandler’s Ford SC); 5th, Will Forster (Mayfair, Gosport).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Ronnie Sullivan (Frames, Coulsdon); 2nd, Harry Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC); 3rd, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Thomas Saunders (Stepfield SC, Witham, Essex); 5th, Arnie Petty (Salisbury SC).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Ellis 2 Joyce 1, Sullivan 2 Chloe White 0.

FINAL (25/18 points): Ellis 2 Sullivan 0.

Picture by Tim Dunkley

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)