Harrison powers to Pro-Ticket Tour final
WILTSHIRE’S Ben Harrison left a trail of former snooker professionals floundering in his wake as he powered his way through to the final of the second leg of the EASB Pro-Ticket Tour.
Another couple of centuries helped the 18-year-old from Hawkeridge, near Westbury, rip through the field at the Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
However, he admitted tournament winner Martin O’Donnell “absolutely flew against me” in a 5-1 defeat in the final.
Londoner O’Donnell, the resident snooker professional at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, didn’t miss a ball to take a 4-0 lead with breaks of 72, 56, 61 and 70.
Harrison pulled one back with a 74 before O’Donnell sealed victory with a run of 80.
“I don’t mind losing to players who play snooker like that,” declared Harrison. “It’s a shame I couldn’t get a foothold in the match. But I’ve had another great weekend without playing my best snooker.”
Harrison went into the second leg of four in 17th place but increased his chances of booking a place in the second stage.
In the first round, he disposed of former professional Dean Venables (London) 4-3 from 2-0 and 3-2 down with a run of 53 in the decider.
A 100 clearance and a 51 helped Harrison whitewash Aden Kench (Halstead, Essex) 4-0.
And in the quarter finals he faced his Cuestars rival Matt Wilson (High Wycombe).
Again, the teenager won 4-3 from 2-0 and 3-2 down.
Wilson smacked in an 82 to open proceedings and led 2-0 before Harrison knocked in a trademark ton. He missed the green on 103.
Trailing 3-2, Harrison fired in an 82 and secured victory with a 68.
Andrew Norman (Bristol), another ex-pro, was waiting in the semi-finals. But Harrison wiped him out, wrapping up a 4-0 win with a 68.
After all four events, the top 16 from the South join with the top 16 from the North for the second stage. The winner of that turns professional for the 2011/12 season.