Silent Assassin hits the Gold target

OLIVER Sykes returned refreshed from a week on a canal boat following his exploits in Leeds the previous weekend to win the second leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour

The 15-year-old double national junior finalist beat clubmate Ryan Hughes 2-0 in the final of the event sponsored by Pitman Training on home tables at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

Sykes, who pocketed £100 prize money, needed a snooker in the second frame to clinch his sixth Gold Tour winner’s trophy. He now leads the rankings, which he won in the 2018/19 season.

Marcos Dayao (Battersea Park), now second in the rankings, recorded the day’s highest break of 98 against fellow Londoner Adam Stacey in his last group-stage match.

Defending champion Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth) and 12-year-old O’Shay Scott (Eastleigh) made semi-final exits.

A week previously, Sykes lost in the finals of two national junior championships but gained a new nickname and a whole host of new admirers.

He went down 7-5 to professional Sean Maddocks (Liverpool) in the final of the English Under-18 Championship on the magnificent sunken table at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.

The afternoon fightback from 6-2 to 6-5 will live long in the memory.

Sykes, whose 83 in the final frame of the first session, was likened to a “silent assassin” by Maddock’s coach Neil Johnson over lunch.

The following morning, he couldn’t get going in a 6-3 defeat by defending champion Paul Deaville (also from Liverpool) in the final of the English Under-16 Championship.

Reflecting on a busy two days, Sykes said: “Saturday, against Sean, was definitely a battle. I managed to get back a few frames and almost made it to a decider.

“I made a few good breaks as well. It was a good feeling, coming back (from 6-2 down). The table was really nice.

“Sunday was a bit of a battle as well. I was just happy to be there.

“I had a nice relaxing week – and definitely needed it.”

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the third leg of six on Sunday, August 29.

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

BREAKS

Marcos Dayao: 98, 63, 46, 41, 41.
Ronnie Sullivan: 46, 43, 40.
Steven Hughes: 60, 57, 53.
Oliver Sykes: 54.
Lee Whaley: 40, 40.

GOLD RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Ronnie Sullivan (Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon); 2nd, Marcos Dayao (Cousins SC, London); 3rd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Adam Stacey (Keith Davis Cue Sports Club, Dagenham).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 3rd, Aristos Pampouris (Cousins, London); 4th, Lee Whaley (Cousins, London).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Scott 2-0 Sullivan, R Hughes 2-1 Joyce, Cowdroy 2-0 S Hughes, Sykes 2-1 Dayao.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): R Hughes 2-0 Scott, Sykes 2-0 Cowdroy.

FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Sykes 2-0 R Hughes.

Picture, from left: Oliver Sykes, Paul Lawrence (from event sponsor Pitman Training), Ryan Hughes.