Gibbs is top potter as he sees off Hughes in tough finale

Olly Gibbs, who was suffering with a sore neck, did it the hard way in the fourth leg at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth.

The 12-year-old defeated new rankings leader Steven Hughes, his club-mate from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, 2-1 in the final.

That was after Hughes had taken the lead in the contest and would have been looking to go on and close the match from there.

Gibbs had other ideas as he showed his quality.

He took the second frame by a distance and the decider on the blue.

Gibbs admitted it was a difficult contest and was pleased to come through it.

He said: ‘I had a very tough game against Steven Hughes.

‘He played well and gave me a good match.’

Earlier, he qualified for the knockout on frames difference.

He was one of the two best third-place finishers from the three groups of five.

‘I didn’t expect to get through the groups after finishing third in my group of five,’ he admitted.

‘I then played James Beaven (Coulsdon) in the quarter-finals.

‘And I thought I was going to lose after I left him an easy pink.

‘But, fortunately, he rattled it, leaving it over the pocket.

‘And in the semi-finals, I had a tough game against Connor Benzey, in which I trailed 1-0 but made a comeback to win 2-1.

‘I was very happy to get home after a long day and a well-earned curry – although my neck is a bit sore.’

Hughes, who is sponsored by Vankru Cycling, had won all four round-robin matches, which included a 2-1 victory over Gibbs.

The fifth leg of eight is at Woking Snooker Centre on Sunday, February 7.

– TIM DUNKLEY