EPSB Players Shine in Shoot Out

There was notable success for several EPSB players during the opening round of the BetVictor Snooker Shoot Out in Milton Keynes over the past couple of days.

EPSB nomination Connor Benzey thrived on his live television debut as he went through to the last 64. The 18-year-old south coast cueist defeated Stuart Carrington 43-0.

Fellow teenager and competitor on the EPSB Under-21 Premier Development Tour Hamim Hussain also scored an impressive victory. The Birmingham based star ousted the experienced Peter Lines 9-7 after potting an all-or-nothing long red – and a subsequent black – with time fast running out.

Saqib Nasir and Sean Harvey also recorded eye-catching triumphs over players who have recently won matches at the Crucible Theatre in the professional World Championship.

Seen on the EPSB English Amateur Tour, Nasir dispatched James Cahill 56-1, while 100th English Amateur Snooker Championship semi-finalist Harvey saw off Jamie Clarke 54-19.

Fellow EPSB members Leo Fernandez, Kuldesh Johal and Ian Martin got the better of Joe O’Connor (51-27), Jamie O’Neill (52-14) and Robbie McGuigan (59-16) respectively.

Elsewhere in the unique shot clock competition, the 100th English Amateur Championship winner Ben Hancorn eliminated Jak Jones, and Rory McLeod – the number one ranked player from the last English Amateur Tour – denied former world champion Stuart Bingham.

Rookie professionals Peter Devlin and Jamie Wilson were also on the EPSB’s not-yet-finished 2019/20 season. Both Q-School graduates last summer, Devlin ended the challenge of recent ranking event finalist Jack Lisowski 30-14, while 17-year-old Wilson sparkled as he defeated Lukas Kleckers 91-8. Wilson also took part on the Under-21 Premier Development Tour.

The £171,000 BetVictor Snooker Shoot Out carries a £50,000 top prize and is live on Eurosport throughout. The second round takes place on Saturday.