Has Lloyd got the X Factor?

LAST season’s beaten semi-finalist Mark Lloyd has earned a final crack at the English Under-16 Championship title.

The 15-year-old from Gosport (pictured with Marco Fu) cruised through the southern qualifier, which was cut short because some competitors were desperate to watch ITV’s The X Factor.

Jonny Mutch, from Cambridge, who competes on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour alongside Lloyd, also booked a trip to Leeds for the last-16.

Lloyd was the runaway leader of the round-robin group at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, Surrey. A rich seam of break building produced efforts of 44, 38, 78, 36, 67, 35, 35 and 54. He dropped just two frames out of 17.

Earlier this year, he was beaten 5-1 in the last-four by eventual champion Lewis Gillen.

“Lewis played well,” said Lloyd. “But let’s just see how it all goes. Only time will tell.

“I’m looking forward to that day in March though. Good luck to the other 15 who have also qualified.”

And he added that Mutch “looked to have played well”.

Mutch, 15, who is a member of Cambridge Snooker Club and Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, recorded a 64 break during his marathon eight hours on the green baize

Dad Adrian said: “He was pleased. I was exhausted.”

It was agreed that the last group match, which had no bearing on the outcome of the group, would not be played as it was nearly time for The X Factor.

The last-16 play down to two finalists at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, on Sunday, March 1.

Report by Tim Dunkley.