Nine hours a day turns Donovan into a winner

NINE hours a day on the practice table over Christmas has turned serial runner-up John Donovan into a winner.

The 15-year-old from Somers Town, London, claimed his first success in the third leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

And the 2-0 victory over William Thomson (Eastleigh) in the final took the talented teenager to top spot in the rankings.

Donovan reckons his game improved as the day progressed.

“In the group stages, I wasn’t playing too well but I picked up my game in the semis against Samuel Laxton,” he said.

Donovan won two Bronze Tour events in the 2018/19 season but has been a losing finalist on four occasions since gaining promotion to Silver.

Determined to change that, he put in the hard yards at Cousins Professional Snooker & Pool Club, Holloway, over the holiday period – with just a brief interlude for the festivities.

“I had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off to have a little break – and then I came back on Boxing Day,” he explained.

Meanwhile, it was an extraordinary performance by Thomson. The nine-year-old beat Donovan in the group stages, made a 51 break against Owen Jenkins (Havant), won his group and defeated Simon Budd (London) 2-1 in the last-four to reach his first Silver final.

Laxton (Portsmouth) dropped to second place following his 2-0 semi-final defeat by Donovan.

Frames Sports Bar owner and tournament sponsor Tony Thompson presented the trophies.

For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.framessportsbar.co.uk/.

Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the fourth leg of eight on Sunday, February 13.

BREAKS

Mason Wilson: 55, 45.
Simon Bubb: 54, 43.
Dylan Smith: 54, 35, 35.
William Thomson: 51.
Harry Wyatt: 34.
Samuel Laxton: 33.
Will Forster: 32.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Simon Bubb (Cousins, London); 3rd, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 4th, Dylan Smith (Victoria SC, Tunbridge Wells); 5th, Will Forster (Fareham SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, John Donovan (Cousins, London); 3rd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Owen Jenkins (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Thomson 2-1 Bubb, Donovan 2-0 Laxton.

FINAL (25/18 points): Donovan 2-0 Thomson.

Picture, from left: William Thomson, Tony Thompson, John Donovan.