Karl wins record Masters event

KARL Townsend emerged victorious from a record-breaking field on the opening day of the 2026/27 Cuestars Masters Tour.

The 60-year-old from Northolt, west London, pocketed £100 in prize money after beating debutant Martin Wallace 2-0 in the final at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury.

The 24 entries, the highest in the 11-year history of the midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over, surpassed the 23 in Woking in March, 2023.

And it would have been 25 if Phil Butler hadn’t kindly given up his spot in the competition to run the event which was sponsored by Dennis Tristram.

Townsend didn’t drop a frame in the knockout stage and missed the blue on 92, the day’s highest break, against Andrew Barrett in the last-four.

It was a solid performance by another newcomer Mark A Evans who beat Townsend en route to winning his round-robin group and went on to reach the semi-finals.

Six-time and defending champion John Hunter made a group-stage exit.

Seniors Tour stalwart Wallace had a few days off work and was pleased to see there was a Cuestars competition to enter.

Because of the bumper entry, all deciding frames were reduced to six reds.

Organisers thanked the Crucible staff for looking after them.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of eight on Wednesday, October 7.

Prize money: Winner Karl Townsend £100; runner-up Martin Wallace £60; semi-finalists Andrew Barrett & Mark A Evans £30 each; quarter-finalists Brian Sharpe, Steve Ashton, Dennis Tristram & Al Maher £20 each.

Results at https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/cuestars-masters-55-and-over-tour-event-1.

Picture: Martin Wallace (left) and Karl Townsend