Davies Completes Unique Junior Grand Slam

Ryan Davies added another big accolade to his career CV and completed a very unique feat with victory in the 2023 English Under-21 Snooker Championship held at the Crucible Sports and Social Club, Reading last weekend. 

• Results from the Championship here

His latest national championship victory means he has now claimed English under-14, 16, 18 and 21 snooker championships, English under-16 and 21 billiards championships, and finished top of the English under-21 snooker rankings during his career.

Now aged 20-years-old – and with his birthday next month – it was Davies’ last opportunity to tick off the set of junior titles in England. 

The Oldham-based youngster dropped just one frame during his opening two matches, defeating Kaylan Patel 4-1 and John Donovan 4-0. 

In a mouthwatering tie against this season’s under-21 number one player Liam Pullen in the quarter-finals, Davies came from behind three times, making breaks of 50, 67 and 74 in a high-quality 4-3 win, which also saw Pullen craft breaks of 57 and 110. 

Returning the next day for the final four, ‘The Cannon’ top scored with 77 as he ended the challenge of former WSF Junior Championship runner-up Jake Crofts, 4-2.

In the final, Davies came up against Lewis Ullah, the 2021/22 English under-21 number one ranked player. Davies started very strong, constructing runs of 112 and 51 as he established a 2-0 lead before going on to win the next three frames for a 5-0 triumph.

Davies adds his name to a list of former winners that includes world ranking event champions Kyren Wilson (2012), Chris Wakelin (2013), and current main tour professionals Jamie O’Neill (2003), Sean O’Sullivan (2015) and Louis Heathcote (2018). 

Throughout the weekend, several century breaks were made, including two in the 140s. Oliver Sykes – last year’s under-21 championship runner-up – struck a 142, but Pullen had the highest of the event with a 144. 

The EPSB would like to thank the players, parents, guardians, officials and our hosts for the event, the Crucible Sports and Social Club Reading.