Jeraj prevails in tense late-night final
A BUDDING snooker star from Tooting has collected his third winner’s trophy after late-night drama on the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour.
Zain Jeraj joins Caden Read (Chandler’s Ford) at the top of the rankings after edging first-time finalist Thomas McEvoy 2-1 in three tense and absorbing black-ball games at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.
The 11-year-old clawed back a massive deficit in the opening frame and won on the final ball. McEvoy (Warminster) made a 21 break in the second and forced a decider on the black. It was the first frame that Jeraj had dropped all day.
After clinching the third frame on the black at 9.15pm, Jeraj said: “It was the most exhausting match I’ve ever played. There was so much tension.”
And he praised his opponent’s “sportsmanship”.
It’s tight in the race for the rankings title. Only four points separate the top five. McEvoy is one point adrift of the top two. Leg-two winner George Laxton (Portsmouth) is one point further back in fourth. And the consistent Daniel Walter (Portsmouth) is fifth.
Casey Turner (Burgess Hill) and Tyler Beer (Fair Oak) qualified for the knockout for the first time. There were 24 entries for the Bronze Tour.
Frames Sports Bar owner and tournament sponsor Tony Thompson presented the trophies.
For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.framessportsbar.co.uk/.
Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the fourth leg of eight on Sunday, February 13.
BREAKS
Will Kempton: 24.
George Laxton: 22.
Thomas McEvoy: 21.
Daniel Walter: 21.
BRONZE RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker); 2nd, Jaydon Elliott (147, Swindon); 3rd, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Samuel Walter (Mayfair, Gosport); 5th, Gus Holdway (Castle, Brighton); 6th, Paige Hawkes (Frames, Coulsdon).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Casey Turner (Castle, Brighton); 2nd, George Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Dylan Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Ayan Roy (Frames, Coulson); 5th, Adam Abbas (Castle, Brighton); 6th, Daniel Krupin (Frames, Coulsdon).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Daniel Walter (Mayfair, Gosport); 2nd, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, James Toogood (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Louie Ayling (Castle, Brighton); 5th, Alex Evans (Castle, Brighton); 6th, Matthew Jameson (Castle, Brighton).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Zach Moritz (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Thomas McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Rhys Pearce (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Josh Bell (Castle, Brighton); 5th, Will Kempton (Salisbury SC); 6th, Gus Walker (Castle, Brighton).
QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Jeraj 2-0 T Beer, Moritz 2-1 Laxton, McEvoy 2-1 Turner, D Walter 2-0 Elliott.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Jeraj 2-0 Moritz, McEvoy 2-1 D Walter.
FINAL (25/18 points): Jeraj 2-1 McEvoy.
Picture, from left: Thomas McEvoy, Tony Thompson, Zain Jeraj.