Wilson regains lead after Bournemouth win
JAMIE Wilson proved winning can become a habit by regaining top spot on the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour.
The 16-year-old from Havant beat Londoner Aristos Pampouris 2-0 in the final of the sixth leg at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth.
He pocketed £100 prize money and earlier recorded the day’s highest break of 95 against O’Shay Scott (Eastleigh) in the round-robin group stages.
It followed his maiden Cuestars tournament win in Coulsdon in December after an eight-year wait.
Wilson missed the fifth leg in Chandler’s Ford last month because he was competing in the World Snooker Federation Junior Open in Malta.
The talented teenager reckons he is playing much better since he broke his duck.
He said: “I’m getting used to (winning) now. I didn’t feel as much pressure in the final as I did in the other finals.”
Wilson defeated defending rankings champion Oliver Sykes (Chandler’s Ford) 2-0 in the last-eight after qualifying from his group.
He then compiled a 65 break to wrap up a 2-0 last-four victory over the 2017/18 champion Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth).
And he made a 56 from 35 points down to secure the second frame against first-time finalist Pampouris.
“I don’t think I’d have been able to do that in the first or second event,” added Wilson.
Meanwhile, Steven Hughes (Chandler’s Ford) is joint fifth after a second semi-final appearance of the season. The 18-year-old lost 2-1 to Pampouris.
And Cowdroy edged Callum Browne (Trowbridge) 2-1 on a re-spotted black in the last-eight.
To find out more about event sponsor Greenbaize Snooker Club, go to www.ambassadorsnooker.com.
Fareham Snooker Club hosts the seventh leg of ten on Sunday, February 23.
BREAKS
Jamie Wilson: 95, 65, 56, 44.
Connor Benzey: 77, 53.
Aristos Pampouris: 71.
Oliver Sykes: 70, 51.
Bradley Cowdroy: 70, 45.
Steven Hughes: 53.
Ryan Hughes: 44.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Aristos Pampouris (Legends, Leytonstone); 4th, Ronnie Sullivan (Frames, Coulsdon).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Connor Benzey (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Callum Browne (Player’s, Westbury); 4th, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 5th, Dan Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC).
QUARTER-FINALS: (12 points): Cowdroy 2-1 Browne, Wilson 2-0 O Sykes, Pampouris 2-1 Benzey, S Hughes 2-0 R Hughes.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Wilson 2-0 Cowdroy, Pampouris 2-1 S Hughes.
FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Wilson 2-0 Pampouris.
Picture by Tim Dunkley
Pictured, from left: Aristos Pampouris, Greenbaize SC owner Debbie Ealy, Jamie Wilson.
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)