Benzey’s last-minute decision pays dividends

CONNOR Benzey admitted he’s having “a bit of a low time” with his snooker at the moment but a last-minute decision to travel to south London lifted the gloom a tad.

The 20-year-old from Eastleigh beat home player Evan Plummer 3-0 in the final of the sixth leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

A week earlier he finished the season in eighth place on the Under-21 Premier Development Tour.

Benzey, who finished runner-up on the national junior circuit in the 2019/20 campaign, said: “I wasn’t going to play today but decided at the last minute to come.

“Last weekend really hurt me. I feel like I’m a lot better than the rankings say.

“I feel that I’m under achieving. My game is pretty good. It’s just in matches I’m struggling for confidence. So I’m having a bit of a low time.”

Benzey – who is sponsored by Devlin Cues, Mike Scott Testing Associates, Hillcrest Structural and GH Property Management – also won the last event on home tables at Waterlooville Sports Bar.

He pocketed £100 prize money and took the high break honours with a 102 in the second frame of the final, eclipsing the 101 made by his clubmate Jamie Wilson (Havant) against Lee Whaley (London) in the round-robin group stages.

Oliver Sykes (Chandler’s Ford) lost 2-1 to Plummer in the last-four but the 17-year-old now leads the rankings. Mickey Joyce (Basingstoke) beat Plummer in the group stages but was knocked out 2-1 by Benzey in the second semi.

Elliott Johnson (Sutton) qualified for the knockout for the first time since earning promotion from the Silver Tour at the end of the 2021 season.

For more information about event sponsor Frames Sports Bar, go to www.facebook.com/FramesSportsBarCoulsdon/.

Woking Snooker Centre hosts the seventh leg of ten on Sunday, February 19.

BREAKS

Connor Benzey: 102, 61, 58.
Jamie Wilson: 101, 74, 51.
Evan Plummer: 78, 50.
Oliver Sykes: 75, 75, 74.
Mickey Joyce: 68, 54.
Simon Bubb: 49.
Elliott Johnson: 41.

GOLD RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 2nd, Evan Plummer (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 3rd, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Ronnie Sullivan (Dunstable Snooker Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Connor Benzey (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Lee Whaley (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 4th, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Simon Bubb (Gunnersbury Triangle Club); 2nd, Elliott Johnson (London Snooker Tooting); 3rd, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, John Donovan (Cousins, London).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Joyce 2-1 Forster, Benzey 2-0 Johnson, Sykes 2-0 Wilson, Plummer 2-0 Bubb.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Benzey 2-1 Joyce, Plummer 2-1 Sykes.

FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Benzey 3-0 Plummer.

Picture, from left: Connor Benzey, Tony Thompson (owner of event sponsor Frames Sports Bar), Evan Plummer.