Miller claims Bronze top spot after first tournament win

JACK Miller leads the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings after claiming his first winner’s trophy on the junior snooker circuit.

The 11-year-old from Thatcham prevailed 2-1 from 1-0 down against Aariz Tariq in a “nerve-racking” final of the second leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

It was the first frame he had dropped all day in the event sponsored by Pitman Training.

“It was a nerve-racking game,” admitted Miller. “We both battled for it and it was a good final.”

And he added: “I’m really proud of myself.”

Neither player had ever previously been past the last-four.

Miller replaces leg-one winner Harry Merwood (Salisbury), who lost to Vincent Callender in the last-eight, as front-runner in the race for the rankings title.

Miller – who is based at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury – made his Cuestars debut in Salisbury in September, 2023. He has qualified for the knockout in the last seven ranking events.

Earlier, 13-year-old Tariq (Welling) had edged Callender (Frimley Green) 2-1 on a re-spotted black in the decider to reach his first final. Callender recorded the tournament’s highest break of 24.

Home player Oliver Andrews made the quarter-finals on his Cuestars debut. Jack Allen (Bristol) qualified for the knockout for the first time.

Results are now on snookerscores.net.

The Crucible Sports & Social Club in Newbury hosts the third leg of ten on Sunday, November 2. Gold and Silver will be in Reading so the Bronze round-robin groups will be bigger.

For more information about Pitman Training, go to www.pitman-training.com.