Second Bronze win edges Jeraj closer to top spot

ZAIN Jeraj has rankings leader Asten Sahota in his sights after collecting his second winner’s trophy of the season on the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour.

The 11-year-old from Tooting beat Jaydon Elliott (Swindon) 2-0 in the final of the fourth leg at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Jeraj fought back from more than 20 points down on the colours to win the second frame on the pink.

“It was very intense,” he said.

Admitting it was a shock to win again, he added: “I’m sure the more I win, the more I’ll get used to it.”

Elliott, along with Dylan Beer (Fair Oak), actually beat Jeraj in the round-robin group stages.

Jeraj, who missed the first leg at Waterlooville Sports Bar, climbed to second place in the rankings and is seven points adrift of Sahota (Southampton), who lost 2-0 to Ryan Kneller (Waterlooville) in the last-eight.

Elliott is joint third with Caden Read (Chandler’s Ford).

Kneller was knocked out 2-0 in the last-four by Elliott. It was the fourth time he had missed out on a first trophy by one victory.

And Beer lost 2-1 from 1-0 up to Jeraj on the second semi.

The event was sponsored by the host club and one of its members, Malcolm Slark.

Fareham Snooker Club hosts the fifth leg of six on Sunday, September 26.

BREAKS

Caden Read: 25, 22.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Dylan Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Jaydon Elliott (147 SC, Swindon); 4th, Zain Jeraj (London Snooker); 5th, Aaron Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Caden Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Thomas McEvoy (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Chris Bennett (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Ryan Kneller (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 5th, Rhys Pearce (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 6th, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Kneller 2-0 Sahota, Elliott 2-1 McEvoy, D Beer 2-1 Bennett, Jeraj 2-1 Read.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Elliott 2-0 Kneller, Jeraj 2-1 D Beer.

FINAL (25/18 points): Jeraj 2-0 Elliott.

Picture by Tim Dunkley

From left: Zain Jeraj, Malcolm Slark, Jaydon Elliott