Donnie Gola claims first trophy after a “fun” day

KINGS Cross snooker talent Donnie Gola (pictured) is top of the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings after collecting his first winner’s trophy in south London.

The 14-year-old beat Casey Turner (Haywards Heath) 2-1 in front of an appreciative crowd in a high-quality final at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

He broke the back of the deciding frame with the day’s highest break of 32.

Gola, who is based at The Mildmay Club in Newington Green, said: “It feels great but it was nerve-racking. Casey played very well.”

And reflecting on the day, he added: “It’s been good, just having fun playing snooker. It’s a great experience.”

Nine-year-old Turner, who won the most colourful bow-tie award by a country mile, is the first member of WPBSA coach Kai Michael’s three-year-old junior section based at the Castle Club, Brighton, to reach a Cuestars final.

Three Castle Club players made it through the massive 30-strong field to the semi-finals of the second leg sponsored by Frames Sports Bar.

Turner beat Gus Holdaway (Brighton) 2-0 and Matthew Jameson (Brighton) lost by the same score to Gola. None of the trio had ever progressed this far before.

Earlier, Cuestars debutant Harrison Knock recorded his highest break of 26 against fellow home club player Dexter O’Donovan in the round-robin group stage.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the third leg of ten on Sunday, November 6.

BREAKS

Donnie Gola: 32, 24.
Casey Turner: 29.
Harrison Knock: 26.
Gus Walker: 23, 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Matthew Jameson (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Adam Abbas (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Ellise Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Rayan El Qmache (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Casey Turner (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Chris Bennett (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Zac Perrie.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Alex Evans (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Marshal Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, William Hurley (Lanes Sports Bar, Rayleigh); 2nd, Michael Dean; 3rd, Hugo Yang; 4th, Leonardo Gurung.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP E: 1st, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club, Islington); 2nd, Gus Holdaway (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Dylan Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting); 4th, Oliver Li (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP F: 1st, Gus Walker (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Harrison Knock); 3rd, Samuel Walter (Mayfair, Gosport); 4th, Dexter O’Donovan (Frames, Coulsdon); 5th, Fabian Bernal (Paddock Wood Social Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP G: 1st, Jaydon Elliott (147, Swindon); 2nd, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 4th, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 5th, Brett Knight (Castle SC, Brighton).

LAST-16 (10 points): Jameson 1-0 Walter, Beer 1-0 Woodward, Gola 1-0 Knock, Savage 1-0 Hurley, Light 1-0 Dean, Holdaway 1-0 Walker, Elliott 1-0 Abbas, Turner 1-0 Donnelly.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Jameson 2-1 Beer, Gola 2-1 Savage, Holdaway 2-0 Light, Turner 2-0 Elliott.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Gola 2-0 Jameson, Turner 2-0 Holdaway.

FINAL (25/18 points): Gola 2-1 Turner.