Trio bidding for Main Tour spot
THREE Cuestars big-hitters are three tournaments away from earning a place on the professional circuit.
Matt Wilson (High Wycombe), Ben Harrison (Westbury) and Billy Castle (Marchwood) have qualified for the second stage of the EASB Pro-Ticket Tour.
The Cuestars trio finished in the top-16 in the southern section and now join the top-16 from the north for three national tournaments.
The rankings winner will then be nominated for World Snooker’s Main Tour – and a chance to play alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Neil Robertson.
In the final southern stage tournament at Romford, Harrison, 19, was knocked out 4-2 by Michael Wasley (Gloucester) in the last-32. Wilson, 27, lost 4-2 to Londoner Sean O’Sullivan in the last-16 and Castle, 18, was defeated 4-1 by Wasley in the last-16.
Wilson finished seventh in the south, one place ahead of Harrison. Castle (pictured above), who thought he was out, grabbed 16th place.
Cuestars is guaranteed a player in the last-16 of the first Stage 2 tournament at Woking Snooker Centre this coming weekend. Wilson has drawn Harrison in the first round. Castle must overcome former professional Andrew Norman to progress.
Entry for Stage 2 is £225. Rankings points are carried forward. However, each point earned in the second stage is worth £1.50.
Event two is at Clay Cross, Derbyshire, on April 23-24, with the third and final tournament a week later in Leeds
Other Cuestars positions: Ben Finch (Walthamstow) 24th, Sachin Plaha (Hayes) 26th, Mike Finn (Eastleigh) 39th, Ryan Mears (Aldershot) 44th.