O’Callaghan back with a bang

DORSET snooker amateur David O’Callaghan enjoyed a successful first Cuestars outing for the best part of two years.

The 20-year-old from Bournemouth collected the winner’s trophy in the third leg of the Under-21 Silver Tour at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.

O’Callaghan ended Londoner Lee Whaley’s hopes of a hat-trick of tournament wins, overcoming the rankings leader 2-1 in the final.

Playing in his first Cuestars tournament since January, 2018 on home tables at Greenbaize Snooker Club, O’Callaghan was beaten by Owen Jenkins (Havant) and Mason Wilson (Basingstoke) in his five-man round-robin group.

After securing a knockout spot as one of the two best thirds, he edged last season’s Bronze Tour championship play-off winner John Donovan (London) 2-1 and last season’s Silver Tour championship play-off winner Samuel Laxton (Portsmouth) 2-0.

Three milestones were passed in the group stages of the event sponsored by trophy and sportswear supplier Don Rogers Sports Swindon and Jesters SC.

Whaley fired in his highest competitive break of 57. Donovan posted a personal best 41. And Connor Wollen (Yate) recorded his highest Cuestars break of 30.

O’Callaghan, in his final season on the junior circuit, goes straight in at number 11 in the rankings. Whaley has a 20-point lead over Johnson. Wilson and Laxton are six points further back in joint third.

For more information about the event sponsors, visit www.donrogerssports.co.uk and www.jesterssnooker.co.uk.

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the fourth leg of ten on Sunday, December 1.

BREAKS

Lee Whaley: 57, 48, 46, 46, 35.
John Donovan: 41.
Mason Wilson: 37, 36, 30.
David O’Callaghan: 31.
Connor Wollen: 30.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Lee Whaley (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Nat Kidner (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Lucas Fidow (Jesters, Swindon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, John Donovan (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Elliott Johnson (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Callum White (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Owen Jenkins (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 3rd, David O’Callaghan (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Connor Wollen (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Thomas Sharp (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Whaley 2-0 White, Laxton 2-0 Jenkins, O’Callaghan 2-1 Donovan, Johnson 2-0 Wilson.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Whaley 2-0 Johnson, O’Callaghan 2-0 Laxton.

FINAL (25/18 points): O’Callaghan 2-1 Whaley.

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)