Wilson close to first title

MASON Wilson has one hand on his first Cuestars title.

Just turning up to the season finale in Bournemouth next month will guarantee the 20-year-old from Basingstoke top spot on the Under-21 Silver Tour.

Wilson collected his fourth winner’s trophy of the season in the ninth and penultimate leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

He beat first-time finalist Noah Gartell (Isle of Wight) 2-1 thanks in no small part to a 34 break from a fluked opening red in the deciding frame.

“The final was tough,” admitted Wilson. “If it wasn’t for the fluke, it may have been a different matter.”

It means the teenager, who has appeared in six finals during this campaign, now has a 23-point lead over the 2023/24 Bronze rankings champion Jack Squires (Gosport) and should spend his final year as a junior on the elite Gold Tour.

Wilson said: “I want that year in Gold and my aim was to do it by winning the rankings.

“I’m going to enjoy that year. I’m just going to go out there and have a crack at it.”

Wilson is sponsored by 1981 Events, Fineprint Basingstoke, Designs Unique UK and Flat Out Floors.

Navraj Landa (Eastleigh) made the last-four for the first time. Channel Islander Archie Greier dropped to third place. Wilson, Caden Read (Chandler’s Ford) and Ben Scammell (Amesbury) shared the high-break honours with runs of 46.

Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, hosts the tenth and final leg on Sunday, May 4.

BREAKS

Caden Read: 46, 37, 33.
Ben Scammell: 46, 34, 30.
Mason Wilson: 46, 34.
Noah Gartell: 38, 37, 36.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 2nd, Noah Gartell (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Daniel Walter (Copnor SC); 4th, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Brett Knight (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Archie Greier (First Tower, Jersey); 4th, Gus Walker (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Jack Squires (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Ben Scammell (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Tom McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Navraj Landa (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Dylan Denieffe (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Wilson 2-0 Scammell, McEvoy 2-0 Clayden, Landa 2-0 Knight, Gartell 2-0 Squires.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Wilson 2-1 McEvoy, Gartell 2-1 Landa.

FINAL (25/18 points): Wilson 2-1 Gartell.