Casey reaches under-21 snooker final – at age of nine

Turner, who is from Haywards Heath and based at the Castle Club in Brighton, is the first player from the club to reach a final in the three years that their junior section has been running.

He lost 2-1 to Kings Cross snooker talent Donnie Gola, aged 14, in the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings after collecting his first winner’s trophy in south London in front of an appreciative crowd in a high-quality final at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

He broke the back of the deciding frame with the day’s highest break of 32.

Gola, who is based at The Mildmay Club in Newington Green, said: “It feels great but it was nerve-racking. Casey played very well.”

And reflecting on the day, he added: “It’s been good, just having fun playing snooker. It’s a great experience.”

Nine-year-old Turner, who wore the most colourful bow-tie award by a country mile, is the first member of WPBSA coach Kai Michael’s three-year-old junior section based at the Castle Club to reach a Cuestars final.

Three Castle Club players made it through the massive 30-strong field to the semi-finals of the second leg sponsored by Frames Sports Bar.

Turner beat Gus Holdaway (Brighton) 2-0 and Matthew Jameson (Brighton) lost by the same score to Gola. None of the trio had ever progressed this far before.

Earlier, Cuestars debutant Harrison Knock recorded his highest break of 26 against fellow home club player Dexter O’Donovan in the round-robin group stage.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the third leg of ten on Sunday, November 6.

BREAKS

Donnie Gola: 32, 24.

Casey Turner: 29.

Harrison Knock: 26.

Gus Walker: 23, 20.

LAST-16 RESULTS (10 points): Jameson 1-0 Walter, Beer 1-0 Woodward, Gola 1-0 Knock, Savage 1-0 Hurley, Light 1-0 Dean, Holdaway 1-0 Walker, Elliott 1-0 Abbas, Turner 1-0 Donnelly.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Jameson 2-1 Beer, Gola 2-1 Savage, Holdaway 2-0 Light, Turner 2-0 Elliott.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Gola 2-0 Jameson, Turner 2-0 Holdaway.

FINAL (25/18 points): Gola 2-1 Turner.

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