Mason on course for golden swansong

MASON Wilson is a step closer to his goal of playing his final season as a junior in the top tier of the regional circuit.

The 20-year-old from Basingstoke stretched his lead at the top of the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour rankings after collecting his third winner’s trophy of the campaign.

Appearing in his fourth successive final, he beat Tyler Beer (Fair Oak) 2-0 in the fifth leg at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.

Paying tribute to his 12-year-old opponent, Wilson said: “Tyler has progressed so much over the last season.”

Earlier, he edged Jack Squires (Gosport) 2-1 in an epic last-four match that went to the final black.

“We always have good matches,” said Wilson.

Winning the Silver rankings or making a competitive break of 80 or more earns promotion to the Gold Tour.

And that’s where Wilson wants to be in his last season when he turns 21 in October.

He’s on course following successes in Coulsdon and Chandler’s Ford and a runner-up trophy in the fourth leg in Salisbury.

Wilson, who moved up from Bronze in 2018, reckons the standard of the players in Silver us “up there with the best”, adding: “It’s tough.”

Meanwhile, Ben Scammell (Amesbury) recorded a personal best 58 break in his first match against Lee Clayden (Chingford).

And Noah Gartell (Isle of Wight) progressed to the semi-finals for the first time.

The event was sponsored by Don Rogers Sports (www.donrogerssports.co.uk) and Jesters Snooker Club (www.jesterssnooker.co.uk).

Wilson is sponsored by 1981 Events, Fineprint Basingstoke, Designs Unique UK and Flat Out Floors.

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the sixth leg of ten on Sunday, January 26.

BREAKS

Ben Scammell: 58.
Mason Wilson: 44.
Navraj Landa: 41.
Christopher Woodward: 36.
Tyler Beer: 32.
Jaydon Elliott: 32.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 2nd, Tyler Beer (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Rayan El Qmache (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Yousuf Matib (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Jack Squires (Stoke SC, Gosport); 3rd, Jaydon Elliott (Jesters, Swindon); joint 4th, Ben Scammell (Salisbury SC) & Josh Zebedee (Jesters, Swindon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Ellise Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Navraj Landa (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Gus Walker (Castle SC, Brighton); 5th, Dylan Denieffe (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Archie Greier (First Tower, Jersey); 2nd, Noah Gartell (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Tom McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 4th, Daniel Walter (Copnor SC); 5th, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Wilson 2-1 Woodward, Squires 2-0 Greier, Gartell 2-1 Clayden, Beer 2-0 Scott.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Wilson 2-1 Squires, Beer 2-0 Gartell.

FINAL (25/18 points): Wilson 2-0 Beer.