Nine-year-old records first win after 25 defeats

A NINE-year-old budding snooker star from Bournemouth has won his first match on a regional junior tour after 25 consecutive defeats since making his debut.

Connor Shaw (pictured), who is based at the Greenbaize Snooker Club, broke his duck during the first leg of the new season on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Tour at Salisbury Snooker Club.

He edged home player Albert Warren on the final black in the Plate competition for those not qualifying for the knockout from the round-robin group stages.

“I was scared he was going to pot the black,” said a relieved Shaw, who then lost to the eventual champion Dan Sykes in the next round.

Shaw made his Cuestars debut on the Bronze Tour at his home club last January. In the following months, he made the trips to Chandler’s Ford, Swindon, Fareham, Salisbury and Swindon again for the championship play-off.

And he was responsible for the quote of the day at Salisbury.

Asked you he was playing next, the pint-sized potter, who could pass as a six-year-old, replied: “The little kid.”

He was referring to eight-year-old Oliver Sykes, from Chandler’s Ford.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.