Three tons for new professional Sykes

OLIVER Sykes made a winning return to the Cuestars circuit following his qualification for next season’s World Snooker Tour.

The 20-year-old from Chandler’s Ford knocked in three centuries en route to clinching the penultimate leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour at Waterlooville Sports Bar.

Sykes pocketed £150 after beating a “very handy” and first-time finalist Jack Squires 3-1.

“I was delighted to win considering I didn’t feel like I was playing my best,” he said.

“Jack is a very handy player who put me under pressure at times.”

Next up for Sykes is three days of 900 action at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Reading, followed by the qualifying rounds for the World Championship at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The left-hander became a professional snooker player by reaching the final of the European Championship in Spain earlier this month.

A total of 23 breaks of 40 or more were recorded in the event sponsored by Waterlooville-based www.snookercrazy.com, which is run by the highly-respected Marc Lockley.

Five players travel to the last leg in Bournemouth next month with a chance of clinching the rankings title.

Noah Gartell, who lost 2-0 to John Donovan in the quarter-finals, takes over top spot. Donovan, who went out 2-0 in the last-four to Sykes, is three points adrift in second place. Harry Wyatt drops to third. Will Forster and Ryan Spratt, in fourth and fifth respectively, are not out of the running.

All results are on snookerscores.net.

Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, hosts the tenth and final leg on Sunday, April 26.