Squires favourite to land Bronze title

JACK Squires is a step closer to claiming a regional junior snooker title after collecting his fourth winner’s trophy of the season.

The 18-year-old from Gosport triumphed by the skin of his teeth in the eighth leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour at Fareham Snooker Club.

Squires edged first-time finalist Rory Champion 2-1 on the last ball in the deciding frame when his 16-year-old opponent from Guildford attempted a long double into the green pocket and left the black invitingly close to the middle pocket.

He said: “I haven’t played massively well today but I brought I back in the semis and the final.

“There’s been a lot of scrappy frames. I’ve had a lot of practice in that, playing my mate Bradley Jones.”

Londoner Dylan Denieffe, who made a second successive semi-final appearance, recorded a personal best break of 45 against Dexter O’Donovan (Sanderstead) in his second group-stage match. But the day’s highest was a 48 by Channel Islander Archie Greier.

Noah Gartell (Isle of Wight) remains in second place in the rankings after losing 2-0 to title-rival Squires in the last-eight. Oliver Donnelly (Wandsworth) is third following a third semi-final in four tournaments.

The event was sponsored by Fareham SC (farehamsnooker.co.uk) and snookerdad Ian Walter.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the ninth leg of ten on Sunday, April 7.

BREAKS

Archie Greier: 48, 23.
Dylan Denieffe: 45(PB), 22.
Rory Champion: 25, 22.
Jack Squires: 25.
Oliver Donnelly: 24, 22.
Rayan El Qmache: 23.
Navraj Landa: 22.
Noah Gartell: 22.
Daniel McGowan: 21, 20.
Bradley Jones: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Jack Squires (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Navraj Landa (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Alex Scotney (Frames, Coulsdon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Daniel McGowan (Frames, Coulsdon); 2nd, Noah Gartell (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Bradley Jones (Stoke SC, Gosport); 4th, Fabian Bernal (Paddock Wood Social Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 2nd, Dylan Denieffe (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Stanley Sims (Woking SC); 4th, Dexter O’Donovan (Frames, Coulsdon).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Seth Charters (JP’s, Harlow); 2nd, Yousuf Matib (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Beibei Ji (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Emrys Lewis (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP E: 1st, Archie Greier (First Tower, Jersey); 2nd, Rory Champion (Woking SC); 3rd, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Charlie Ings (Salisbury SC); 5th, Sam Borgars (Braintree Sportsman).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP F: 1st, Rayan El Qmache (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Zac Perrie (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Jack Miller (Salisbury SC); 4th, Aariz Tariq (Welling SC); 5th, Lewis Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC).

LAST-16 (10 points): Squires 1-0 Miller, Gartell 1-0 Matib, Denieffe 1-0 El Qmache, Greier 1-0 Jones, Donnelly 1-0 Clayden, Charters 1-0 Perrie, Champion 1-0 Light, McGowan 1-0 Landa.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Squires 2-0 Gartell, Denieffe 2-1 Greier, Donnelly 2-0 Charters, Champion 2-0 McGowan.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Squires 2-1 Denieffe, Champion 2-0 Donnelly.

FINAL (25/18 points): Squires 2-1 Champion.

Picture: Jack Squires (left) and event sponsor Ian Walter