James collects first silverware after early defeat

SURREY potter Edward James admitted he didn’t expect to win his first regional snooker tournament after losing his first match of the day.

But the 12-year-old (pictured left) swept all before him to clinch the second leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour on home tables at Woking Snooker Centre.

James, who had never progressed past the semi-finals in his eight previous outings, defeated Luke Beebe, 12, whom he had lost to in his first group stage match, 2-0 to claim the trophy.

“There was a lot of pressure but I played really well,” he said. “It was close. (Luke’s) a really good player.

“When I lost my first frame to Luke, I didn’t think I had a chance.”

First-time finalist Beebe (Chandler’s Ford SC) is now ranked joint second with beaten semi-finalist Callum McDonald (Salisbury SC).

James knocked out first-leg winner and rankings leader Ollie Gibbs (Stoke SC, Gosport) in the quarter-finals from 1-0 down.

Ally Pollard qualified for the knockout for the first time via a re-spotted black during a three-way play-off in his round-robin group.

The 16-year-old from Salisbury SC then lost 2-1 to clubmate Kaine Petty in the quarter-finals.

Petty’s second successive last-four exit came at the hands of Beebe.

The third leg of eight is at Jesters Snooker Hall Swindon on Sunday, December 8.

BREAKS

Luke Beebe: 31.
Edward James: 26, 24, 22.
Callum McDonald: 25.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Luke Beebe (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Edward James (Woking SC); 3rd, Keegan Reed (Salisbury SC); 4th, Sam Warren (Chandler’s Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Kaine Petty (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Nat Kidner (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Ben Hatch (Southampton); 4th, Adam Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Callum McDonald (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Ally Pollard (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Harry Cook (Woking SC); 4th, Ryan Compton (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Ollie Gibbs (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Jordan Lee (Woking SC); 3rd, Bradley Wrench (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 4th, Ben Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Beebe beat Lee 2-0, Petty beat Pollard 2-1, McDonald beat Kidner 2-1, James beat Gibbs 2-1.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Beebe beat Petty 2-0, James beat McDonald 2-1.

FINAL (25/18 points): James beat Beebe 2-0.

Picture by Tim Dunkley