Donovan breaks Gold duck thanks to girlfriend Isabella

WHAT spurred John Donovan on to win his first event on the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour following five runner-up trophies on the junior snooker circuit over the past three years?

It wasn’t the glory. It wasn’t the impressive silverware. It was, in fact, the thought of spending the £150 prize money on his girlfriend, Isabella.

The 19-year-old from Camden Town revealed that a chat with his WPBSA coach, John Woods, was the catalyst to his 3-2 victory over Harry Wyatt in the final of the second leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

He said: “Earlier in the week, John gave me a bit of motivation. I wasn’t practising that much. I have a girlfriend now.

“He told me, when I’m not with her, I should practise more and win tournaments and spend the prize money on her.”

Reflecting on the day, Donovan added: “It wasn’t amazing. I just tried to keep going and getting the wins. I was a bit nervous that I’d get to another final and not win it.”

Donovan, who has six Silver and Bronze ranking winner’s trophies on his mantlepiece, had been losing finalist in Gold five times since gaining promotion after clinching the 2021/22 Silver rankings title.

Wyatt (Ferndown), one of several of the players who had been in action on the English Junior Tour in Walsall the previous day, was appearing in his first Gold final.

The 15-year-old now jointly leads the rankings with Noah Gartell (Isle of Wight) following the event sponsored by Pitman Training.

Tom McEvoy (Warminster) made it through to the last-four in only his second tournament on the third tier.

Results are now on snookerscores.net.

The Crucible Sports & Social Club in Reading hosts the third leg on Sunday, November 2.

For more information about Pitman Training, go to www.pitman-training.com.