Forster pockets £150 for Gold success
COULD this be the season that turns Will Forster from a bridesmaid into a bride?
The 19-year-old from Whiteley won the opening leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Forster, who finished second in the rankings in 2023/24 and third last season, is the first recipient of the increased prize money of £150.
He beat William Hurley (Rayleigh), who pocketed £50, in a one-frame final because of the late finish.
“It was a long day but I kept going,” he said. “There were a lot of players here. I did well to get through.”
Forster practises on the professional standard Star tables at Waterlooville Sports Bar.
“It helps a lot,” he explained. “I find it easier to control the white on a Star table.”
Earlier, a round of applause greeted the day’s highest break of 100 made by Ryan Spratt (Southampton) in the second frame of his 2-0 group-stage victory over Dylan Beer (Eastleigh). It was his first century away from Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.
Two Gold Tour debutants had days to remember. Jack Squires (Gosport) put together his highest break of 71 against Hurley in the group stage and reached the semi-finals. Noah Gartell (Isle of Wight), who made his first century over the summer, also made the last-four.
Home players Tyler Beer and Tom McEvoy proved they can compete at this level after being promoted from Silver. In the group stage, Beer beat Gartell and McEvoy took the scalp of the eventual tournament winner.
Henry Argent, a useful player from Chelmsford, made his Cuestars debut and took frames off all of his opponents.
The event was sponsored by Salisbury SC (salisburysnookerclub.co.uk).
Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of ten on Sunday, October 5.
BREAKS
Ryan Spratt: 100, 49.
Noah Gartell: 80.
William Hurley: 78, 45.
Jack Squires: 71(PB)
Will Forster: 62, 58.
Asten Sahota: 53.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, William Hurley (Lanes Sports Bar, Rayleigh); 2nd, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Jack Squires (Stoke SC, Gosport); 4th, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club); 5th, Henry Argent (Moulsham Social, Chelmsford).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Ryan Spratt (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Noah Gartell (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Tyler Beer (Salisbury SC); 5th, Dylan Beer (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker, Tooting); 3rd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Tom McEvoy (Salisbury SC).
QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Hurley 2-1 Wyatt, Gartell 2-1 Jeraj, Squires 2-1 Spratt, Forster 2-0 Thomson.
SEMI-FINALS: (15 points): Hurley 2-0 Gartell, Forster 2-0 Squires.
FINAL (£150/£50, 25/18 points): Forster 1-0 Hurley.