O’Shay victory sets up interesting trip to Bournemouth

O’SHAY Scott ended a productive month on the green baize by winning the ninth and penultimate leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour.

Back on home tables at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club after his travels, the 16-year-old beat rankings leader Riley Ellis (Swindon) 2-0 in the final.

“It was a bit of a struggle but it was nice to win,” said Scott, who pocketed £100 in prize money.

Last month, he reached the quarter-finals of the European Under-18 Championship in Turkey – losing to 14-year-old Polish wonderkid Michał Szubarczyk who has now earned himself a two-year tour card – and the last-32 of the Under-21 event.

A week later, he was runner-up for the first time in the second leg of the Cuestars Joe Perry Under-21 Super Series in Coulsdon.

Reflecting on the past few weeks, Scott said: “I’m pleased with myself. It’s good. I’ve just got to keep practising.”

Harry Wyatt (Ferndown) recorded the day’s highest break of 88 in the round-robin group stage. William Hurley (Rayleigh) and Zain Jeraj (Tooting) both lost third-frame deciders in the last-four.

Ellis, 20, in his final season on the junior circuit, takes an 11-point lead over Will Forster (Whiteley) into the season finale at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, on Sunday, May 4.

Something that may have passed under the radar – except, perhaps, in north Wiltshire – is that no one in the 16-year history of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Tours has ever won all three ranking titles. Ellis won the Bronze title in 2016/17 and the Silver title in 2020/21.

BREAKS

Harry Wyatt: 88.
O’Shay Scott: 81.
William Hurley: 45.
Ryan Spratt: 41.

GOLD RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Ryan Spratt (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker, Tooting); 2nd, William Hurley (Lanes Sports Bar, Rayleigh); 3rd, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club).

SEMI-FINALS: (15 points): Ellis 2-1 Hurley, Scott 2-1 Jeraj.

FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Scott 2-0 Ellis.