Record-breaker Thomson wins on Gold debut

WILLIAM Thomson has earned himself a place in the Cuestars records book.

The 11-year-old is the youngest event winner in the 14-year history of the Under-21 Gold Tour.

And he achieved the remarkable feat on his debut.

Thomson, who earned promotion from Silver at the end of last season, collected the winner’s trophy and £100 in prize money in the opening leg at Salisbury Snooker Club.

A doubled re-spotted black into a middle pocket secured the deciding frame of a 2-1 victory over John Donovan (Camden Town) in the final.

It was third time lucky for the talented youngster who now practises on his own professional-standard Star table in a purpose-built potting shed at the bottom of the garden of his home in Chandler’s Ford.

“I was nervous,” he said. “John’s a really good player. He beat me in two Silver finals (last year).”

Thomson has been playing competitively on full-sized tables at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club since before his fifth birthday.

He made his Cuestars debut aged six, has a high competitive break of 80, played for the England Under-16 C snooker team and the England B billiards side in the Home Internationals last month, and has won the English Under-16 Billiards Championship twice.

Thomson defeated clubmate and England billiards teammate Riley Ellis 2-0 in the last-four. Donovan beat second-group winner O’Shay Scott 2-0 in the second semi.

Defending rankings champion Oliver Sykes recorded the day’s highest break of 70 in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Donovan.

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the second leg of ten on Sunday, October 1.

For more information about the event sponsor, Salisbury SC, go to salisburysnookerclub.co.uk.

BREAKS

Oliver Sykes: 70, 57, 54.
John Donovan: 60, 44.
Simon Bubb: 60.
Riley Ellis: 50.
Will Forster: 45, 45.

GOLD RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP: 1st, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, John Donovan (Hurricane Room, Colindale); 3rd, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Dylan Smith (Victoria SC, Tunbridge Wells).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Simon Bubb (Gunnersbury Triangle Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker, Tooting); 3rd, Jacob Boyle (Mackintosh Sports Club, Cardiff); 4th, Ryan Spratt (Chandlers Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Ellis 2-1 Sahota, Thomson 2-0 Jeraj, Scott 2-1 Forster, Donovan 2-1 Sykes.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Thomson 2-0 Ellis, Donovan 2-0 Scott.

FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Thomson 2-1 Donovan.