Jeraj clinches Bronze title

TOOTING’S Zain Jeraj has clinched his first major snooker title.

The 11-year-old was crowned the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings champion after landing his fourth winner’s trophy of the season.

But Jeraj was forced to dig deep in the seventh leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

After dealing with the pressure of a three-way play-off in the round-robin group stages, he fought back from 1-0 down against Tyler Beer (Fair Oak) in the last-eight and from 1-0 down against Ellise Scott (Eastleigh) in the final.

All season the youngster has been determined to go one step further than last year.

He said: “It’s really special because last season I was second. It means a lot to me.”

Jeraj added that he’s “looking forward” to a frame with Welsh Open champion Joe Perry on Finals Day at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on June 12.

The consistent Daniel Walter (Portsmouth) qualified for the Bronze knockout for the eighth successive tournament.

Walter, who is second in the rankings, lost 2-1 to Scott in his fifth semi-final appearance of the season. Ten-year-old Scott reached the first final of her Cuestars career.

Dylan Beer (Fair Oak), runner-up in the previous two legs, was knocked out 2-0 by Jeraj in the last-four.

For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.pitman-training.com.

Waterlooville Sports Bar hosts the eighth and final leg on Sunday, May 15.

BREAKS

Zain Jeraj: 31, 20.
Daniel Walter: 26, 23.
Will Kempson: 21.
Ryan Spratt: 20.
Ellise Scott: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Dylan Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker); 4th, Gus Holdway (Castle, Brighton); 5th, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Thomas McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Ellise Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Matthew Jameson (Castle, Brighton); 5th, Samuel Walter (Mayfair, Gosport).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Ryan Spratt (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Daniel Walter (Mayfair, Gosport); 3rd, Will Kempson (Salisbury SC); 4th, Chris Bennett (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Ayan Roy (Frames, Coulson).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Scott 2-0 Read, D Walter 2-0 McEvoy, D Beer 2-0 Spratt; Jeraj 2-1 T Beer.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Scott 2-1 D Walter, Jeraj 2-0 D Beer.

FINAL (25/18 points): Jeraj 2-1 Scott.