SELF-belief and no small amount of talent steered Paul Davis to a first tournament win on the Cuestars Championship Tour in Swindon.
The Wareham cueist defeated rankings leader Mark Lloyd 3-1 in the final of the second leg at Jesters Snooker Club.
Although having played solid all day, Davis raised his game against Lloyd and his excellent safety play limited the leg-one winner’s scoring chances.
Davis, who pocketed £175 in prize money, felt that he hadn’t performed at his best in previous events.
“I know if I play well, I can beat anyone on my day,” he said. “I’m so pleased to get the win. It means a lot to me.”
Earlier, Lloyd was in exceptional form, defeating former professional Billy Castle (Reading), Connor Benzey (Eastleigh) and Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth) en route to the final.
The 24-year-old from Gosport recorded two centuries in the event sponsored by Llanelli-based Hotwire Table Heating, a 100 in the first round against Grant Mason (Bournemouth) and a 107 in his semi-final against Cowdroy, who took the high-break honours with a 108 against Jacob Boyle (Cardiff) in the last-eight.
Ryan Hughes (Chandler’s Ford) enjoyed a good run to the semi-finals with 3-0 wins over Mike Trigg (Southampton) and O’Shay Scott (Eastleigh).
Dan Webb (Bournemouth) defeated Mason 3-2 in the Plate final.
Organisers thanked the team at Jesters for hosting the event.
The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, hosts the third leg of nine on Sunday, November 10.
For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.hotwiresnookerheaters.com.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
PRELIMS: Liam O’Shea 3-1 (55) Neil Herd, Connor Benzey (59, 56) 3-1 Ryan Spratt, Billy Castle (67, 50) 3-1 Will Forster, Mark Lloyd (100, 91) 3-0 Grant Mason, Jake Baker 3-2 Nick O’Sullivan, Bradley Cowdroy 3-0 Shane Hellyer, Jacob Boyle 3-0 Daniel Hall.
LAST-16: Benzey (86) 3-0 O’Shea, Lloyd (51) 3-1 Castle, Cowdroy (56, 56) 3-0 Baker, Boyle 3-2 Dan Webb, Riley Ellis 3-1 Franco Carchedi, Paul Davis 3-0 William Harrison, Ryan Hughes 3-0 Mike Trigg, O’Shay Scott 3-0 James Watson.
QUARTER-FINALS: Lloyd (67) 3-1 (87) Benzey, Cowdroy (108, 61) 3-0 Boyle, Davis (52) 3-2 Ellis, Hughes (63) 3-0 Scott.
SEMI-FINALS (£30): Lloyd (107, 59) 3-0 Cowdroy, Davis 3-0 Hughes.
FINAL (£175/£75): Davis 3-1 (69) Lloyd.
PLATE RESULTS (BREAKS) PRELIMS: Spratt 2-1 Carchedi, Mason 2-1 Harrison, Herd 2-0 Watson.
QUARTER-FINALS: Mason 2-0 Spratt, Herd 2-1 Hellyer, O’Sullivan 2-1 Forster, Webb 2-0 Hall.
SEMI-FINALS: Mason 2-1 Herd, Webb 2-0 O’Sullivan.
FINAL (£25/£15): Webb 3-2 Mason.
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