Donnelly claims first Cuestars title

IT WAS third time lucky for Oliver Donnelly in the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour Championship in Swindon.

After two runner-up trophies in ranking events earlier this year, the 13-year-old from Wandsworth admitted he was “relieved” to cross the winning line for the first time in the season finale.

Donnelly defeated his Surrey Snooker Academy clubmate Alex Scotney 2-1 from 1-0 down in the final at Jesters Snooker Club.

“It was stressful,” he said. “I lost the first frame and barely won the second.”

But the teenager broke the back of the decider with a run of 31.

Reflecting on his success, he added: “I’m relieved. It’s been coming. It’s the last event of the season so I felt I had to do it.”

Charlie Ings (Salisbury), who has progressed well this season, made the last-four. Londoner Dany Lee reached a semi-final for the first time.

Special guest Joe Perry presented Donnelly with his trophy.

The event was sponsored by Jesters Snooker Club (www.jesterssnooker.co.uk).

BREAKS

Oliver Donnelly: 31, 31, 30.
Charlie Ings: 31.
Alex Scotney: 29, 21, 20.
Vincent Callender: 21.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Charlie Ings (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Dany Lee (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Jack Allen (Warmley SC); 4th, Sam Perkins (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Alex Scotney (Surrey Snooker Academy); 2nd, Vincent Callender (Woking SC); 3rd, Joseph Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Harvey Denieffe (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Stanley Sims (Woking SC); 2nd, Toby Waters (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Aariz Tariq (Welling SC); 4th, Beibei Ji (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 2nd, Chester Chan (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Jack Miller (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Harry Merwood (Salisbury SC).

QUARTER-FINALS: Ings 2-0 Waters, Donnelly 2-1 Callender, Scotney 2-0 Chan, Lee 2-1 Sims.

SEMI-FINALS: Donnelly 2-0 Ings, Scotney 2-1 Lee.

FINAL: Donnelly 2-1 Scotney.