Laxton does a ‘Luca Brecel’

SAMUEL Laxton’s acceptance speech after securing the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour rankings title could easily have come from the lips of new world champion Luca Brecel.

The 18-year-old from Portsmouth admitted he rarely practises and that liquid refreshment had been taken the night before.

Laxton was crowned champion after title-rival Asten Sahota (Southampton) was knocked out in the round-robin group stage of the tenth and final leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

And he went on to claim his second winner’s trophy of the season by beating William Thomson (Chandler’s Ford) 2-1 in the final of the Pitman Training-sponsored event.

Sahota, 11, finished the season as runner-up and 13-year-old Harry Wyatt (Ferndown) was third.

Reflecting on the competition, Laxton said: “They are all top players. Every time we play each other it goes down to the last couple of balls.”

Turning to the title, he added: “It means a lot to win the rankings.

“I played quite well today (considering) I was out drinking last night so have had minimal hours sleep.”

Laxton, who earlier in the day matched his highest break of 68, is based at Waterlooville Sports Bar and made his Cuestars debut in 2017. He won the end-of-season Bronze Championship title in 2018 and the Silver Championship in 2019 and 2022.

Next up is the Cuestars Under-21 Gold, Silver and Bronze Championships with guest professional Joe Perry at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday, May 21.

For more information about Pitman Training, go to www.pitman-training.com.

BREAKS

Samuel Laxton: 68, 56.
Asten Sahota: 43, 37.
Ryan Spratt: 40, 32, 31, 30.
Harry Wyatt: 37, 37.
Mason Wilson: 36.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Mason Wilson (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Daniel Walter (Mayfair SC, Gosport); 5th, Tom McEvoy (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Ryan Spratt (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Ayan Roy (Frames, Coulsdon).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Thomson 2-0 Spratt, Laxton 2-1 Wyatt.

FINAL (25/18 points): Laxton 2-1 Thomson.