Lloyd clinches Gold thriller

The 17-year-old from Newport admitted the 3-2 victory over Ben Tanner in the play-off final at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, was a “close one”.

Lloyd fired in an 83 break to take the lead and added a 102 to force a decider.

Tanner, from Eastleigh, who ended the eight-leg tour top of the rankings, cleared the colours to the pink in the fifth frame but couldn’t close out what would have been a remarkable win.

Lloyd eventually won a long safety battle on the final black.

“It was a close one,” said Lloyd. “He played pretty well.

“We both played a good few safeties. He left me a long black and I potted it.”

And Lloyd, who also reached the main Championship final where he lost 3-0 to Jon Charlton, added: “I’ve had a tough day.”

Tanner said: “It was close. It’s the third time I’ve played him and that’s the only time I’ve actually taken frames off him. I’ve had a good run this year.”

Tanner was also on the receiving end of a 100 break from Lloyd in a 3-0 quarter-final defeat in the main Championship quarter-finals.

“I’m a bit sick and tired of him,” joked the 19-year-old.

LAST-16: Bradley Chappell (Greenbaize SC, Bournemouth) w/o Kevin Impett (Chandler’s Ford SC), Dean Matthews (Ivy Leaf Club, Maidenhead) 3 Liam Burnet (The Academy, Eastleigh) 2, Ben Fortey (SWSA, Gloucester) 3 Ollie Kendrick (Whitmore Reans Cons, Wolverhampton) 1, Callum Lloyd (Rileys, Newport, South Wales) 3 Stuart Scott (Romford SC) 1, Oliver Parsons (Jesters, Swindon) 3 Daniel Woods (Chandler’s Ford SC) 0, Danny Tallentire (Player’s, Westbury) 3 Lee Roling (The Academy, Eastleigh) 0, Lee Bell (The Academy, Eastleigh) w/o Jordan Winbourne (Chandlers Ford SC), Ben Tanner (The Academy, Eastleigh) bye.

QUARTER-FINALS: Tanner 3 Chappell 2, Fortey 3 Matthews 0, Lloyd 3 Parsons 0, Tallentire 3 Bell 2.

SEMI-FINALS: Tanner (74) 3 Fortey 0, Lloyd 3 Tallentire 1.

FINAL: Lloyd (102, 83) 3 Tanner 2.