Sheffield’s Jake Crofts takes U25 title.

Jake Crofts battled his way through a strong field to take this season’s U25 crown. Wins against Shaun Liu (3-1) and Josh Brady (3-0) were followed by an epic semi-final win over Vladislav Gradinari. Gradinari started with a magnificent 139 clearance which took the day’s high break prize, but Crofts fought back and with the aid of breaks of 60 and 61 he managed a 3-2 victory.

In the final he faced Samuel Lee Stevens who had defeated Daniel Boyes (3-1) and Oliver Read (3-0), including breaks of 58,62 and 56 along the way.

The final itself was a tense affair, Lee Stevens taking the opener before Crofts took the next two with the aid of a 52 break. Lee-Stevens levelled, but Crofts proved the steadier of the two and took the decider and with it the title of Yorkshire U25 Champion.

Shaun Liu defeated Luke Drennan 2-1 in the final of the plate competition.

Results-

Matthew Haslam 3 v 0 Luke Drennan
Vladislav Gradinari 3 v 1 James Pears
Jake Crofts 3 v 1 Shaun Liu

Quarter-Finals

Vladislav Gradinari 3 v 2 Matthew Haslam
Jake Crofts 3 v 0 Josh Brady
Samuel Lee-Stevens 3(58) v 1 Daniel Boyes
Oliver Read 3 v 0 Dilraj Ryatt

Semi-Finals

Jake Crofts 3(61,60) v 2(139) Vladislav Gradinari
Samuel Lee-Stevens 3(62,56) v 0 Oliver Read

Final

Jake Crofts 3(52) v 2 Samuel Lee-Stevens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plate

Shaun Liu 2 v 1 Daniel Boyes
James Pears 2 v 0 Dilraj Ryatt

Semi-Finals (Plate)

Shaun Liu 2 v 1 James Pears
Luke Drennan 2 v 0 Josh Brady

Final (Plate)

Shaun Liu 2 v 1 Luke Drennan

 

 

 

 

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director