Pace-setter chalks up Oceania title

A BRILLIANT come- come come-from- from fr behind win over the hometown hero has elevated d Bellerive Bellerive’s s Alex Pace to become snooker’s snookers nooker’s s under under-21 21 Oceania champion champion. n. n

Having made it through to th the fina final l in New Zealand undefeated undefeated, Pace, PaPace, 20, , faced off against Kiwi and tournaments favourite Adam Lilley on n Wednesday. Lilley, on the back of a huge 128 break break, took a 3 3-1 1 lead in the best- best best-of-11 of-11 of 11 frames and seemed set seset for glory at the interval break break.

But Pace was not to be dete deterred,e fighting back to take the championship crown 6-4 6 6-4. 4.

“I I just had to focus and I had a couple of good breaks,” Pace said.

“I had a 76 to take it back to 3-2 and that gave me a bit of confidence and I just grinded out the frames from m there there, put a bit of pressure back on him and he started to make a few more mistakes to let me back in. in.” in ”

Pace already has an impressive list t of achievements in cue sports sports, having g been a member of the Australian eight- eight-ball ball team that won the wo world championships in England.

“This This would probably be up there with the top tw two or three if not the best one, one one,” ” Pace PacPace said of his most recent triumphtriumph.

“I I have won the world teams for the eight eight-ball ball championships over in England England, but that was in a team, teateam, this was an individual e event.

““It It would proba probably be my best win I would say.”