Sykes on a roll
EXCITING times like these are a reward for all that hard work.
Oliver Sykes has won two tournaments in nine days – and next month he flies out to Malta for the European Championships.
The 17-year-old from Chandler’s Ford followed up his success in last weekend’s Joe Perry Under-21 Super Series in Newbury by winning the seventh leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour at Woking Snooker Centre.
Sykes collected £100 in prize money from event-sponsor Tan Jeraj after beating Connor Benzey 3-1 in the final on the match table.
The penultimate frame was key to the victory. Benzey made a 50 break and Sykes replied with a 67 to win on the black.
“I had a good clearance in the third frame,” agreed Sykes. “It was a game-changer.”
Looking ahead to Malta, the left-hander, who was playing with a new tip fitted on Friday night by David Thomson, said: “I’m looking forward to that. It’s good to be on good form.
“I’m definitely scoring more heavily now.
“It’s good to be consistent, back-to-back tournament wins. Yes, it feels good.”
Benzey (Eastleigh) recorded the day’s highest break of 114 against Shane Kearns (Swindon) in the round-robin group stage.
Westley Cooper (Leicester) made it through to the semi-finals on his debut but was knocked out 2-1 by Sykes.
Sykes extended his rankings lead to 22 points over Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth), who lost 2-1 to Benzey in the last-four.
Fareham Snooker Club hosts the eighth leg of ten on Sunday, March 12.
BREAKS
Connor Benzey: 114, 80, 53, 50.
Oliver Sykes: 92, 89, 84, 76, 69, 67, 49.
Simon Bubb: 77, 44.
Bradley Cowdroy: 66, 60, 57, 41.
Evan Plummer: 58, 48, 46.
Will Forster: 56, 40.
Westley Cooper: 54.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Connor Benzey (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Westley Cooper (Breakers, Leicester); 4th, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Elliott Johnson (London Snooker Tooting).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Ronnie Sullivan (Dunstable Snooker Club); 2nd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Evan Plummer (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 4th, Lee Whaley (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 5th, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Simon Bubb (Gunnersbury Triangle Club); 2nd, John Donovan (Cousins, London); 3rd, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, William Harrison (Petworth RBL); 5th, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC).
QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Benzey 2-0 Plummer, Cowdroy 2-0 Donovan, Cooper 2-0 Sullivan, Sykes 2-0 Bubb.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Benzey 2-1 Cowdroy, Sykes 2-1 Cooper.
FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Sykes 3-1 Benzey.
Picture, from left: Oliver Sykes, event-sponsor Tan Jeraj, Connor Benzey.