Hacker discovers key to success
A COMPUTER hacker from Basingstoke who struggles to get his cue on line has won his first tournament on a regional snooker circuit.
Christian Chislett recorded three breaks of more than 80 to overcome Grant Mason in the final of the seventh leg of the Cuestars South of England Championship Tour in Bournemouth.
The 30-year-old, who works for an ethical hacking company that tests computer security systems, found a way through Mason’s defences in the first frame and made an 85.
First-time finalist Mason, competing on home tables at Greenbaize Snooker Club, squared the match on the colours.
Despite insisting he can’t find the centre of the cue-ball, Chislett responded with a run of 88 and then missed the green on 111 to clinch a 3-1 victory.
Mopping up the last five colours would have eclipsed the 134 total clearance made by rankings winner Billy Castle to wrap up a 3-1 quarter-final victory over defending champion Matt Ford.
Earlier, Chislett made a 77 break in the group stages of the event sponsored by www.snookerhub.co.uk and added an 88 in his 3-1 semi-final success over Andover cueman John Hunter.
“I could have had three or four (centuries) today,” he said. “It’s inconsistency.
“I can’t find the middle of the white (ball) – I’m not sure it actually exists!”
Chislett made his Championship Tour debut in Swindon in October, 2009. Bournemouth was his 22nd outing. In the corresponding leg last season, he lost 3-2 to Ford in the final on the same table from 2-0 up and his opponent needing snookers.
“It’s the first time I’ve actually played well in one of these events,” said Chislett, who climbed three places to third.
“I’m happy but it’s taken a while. The standard has definitely gone up a little this year.
“I’ve always scored heavily. I just need that chance. I’m not a great long potter so I struggle to get in a lot of the time and my safety (play) is not great.”
Away from Cuestars events, Chislett makes a 110-mile round trip once a week to turn out for Selsey Royal British Legion in the Chichester and District Snooker League.
Reading-based Castle did enough to secure the sponsored place at Q School with one leg remaining by qualifying for the knockout. The 24-year-old eventually crashed out 3-0 in the last-four to Mason.
The eighth and final leg is on Sunday, April 2, at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.
BREAKS
Billy Castle: 134, 71, 62, 59, 50.
Christian Chislett: 111, 88, 88, 85, 77, 53.
Grant Mason: 87, 67.
Jake Baker: 78, 54.
Mark Wells: 72.
Rikki Moore: 71, 55.
Matt Ford: 71, 52.
Andrew Seymour: 57.
John Hunter: 55, 53, 52.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Mickey Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Rikki Moore (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Jake Baker (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Mike Trigg (Chandler’s Ford SC); 5th, Martin Wallace (Crowthorne RBL).
GROUP B: 1st, Billy Castle (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Andrew Seymour (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Ollie Douglas (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, James Budd (Fareham SC); 5th, David Rice (Salisbury SC).
GROUP C: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Matt Ford (Sunninghill Comrades Club); 3rd, Mark Wells (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Lee Whiteley (Bournemouth); 5th, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley).
GROUP D: 1st, Christian Chislett (Selsey RBL, Chichester); 2nd, Grant Mason (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Neil Herd (Salisbury SC); 4th, David O’Callaghan (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (24 points): Mason 3 Joyce 0, Castle 3 Ford 1, Hunter 3 Seymour 1, Chislett 3 Moore 1.
SEMI-FINALS (30 points): Mason 3 Castle 0, Chislett 3 Hunter 1.
FINAL (£130/£60 50/36 points): Chislett 3 Mason 1.
Pictures by Tim Dunkley
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)