Wilson bags double glory at Whitley

GARY WILSON pocketed a double success in the latest of Whitley Bay Snooker Centre’s one-day handicapped pro-am events.

Not only did the in-form Wilson defeat fellow -40 player Elliott Slessor 3-0 – reversing the result of the last meeting between the two – but he also claimed the highest break of the day award.

Needing three victories to reach the final stages, Walsend’s Wilson started with two consecutive 3-0 whitewashes – firstly over Gateshead’s Brandan Hall (off -20) and then Morpeth’s Gerry McNally (off 55).

In the top half of the draw – and with a match less to play – a struggling Slessor had to pull out all the stops before scraping past local club player Dale Allan (off 50) 3-2.

A better showing allowed Slessor to outscore Whitley cueman

Davey Mole

3-0.

Looking the more promising of the two,

Wilson (right) powered his way through the one-sided final by taking the opening frame 86-43, the second 79-41 and the third 105brk-0 to claim the first prize.

The plate decider brought together North Shields father and son Carl (off 45) and Craig Sexton – Craig triumphing 2-0. ■■THERE were decent results for the region’s five challengers at the Welsh Open at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

Slessor beat Wales Alex Taubman 4-2 in the first round, Leicester’sTom Ford 4-0 in the second and China’s Zmans Amda 4-2 in the third before eventually falling 4-2 to Norway’s promising newcomer Kurk Maflin.

Sam Craigie open his account with a 4-0 drubbing of Essex’s Mark King.

He followed this with a 4-1 hammering of Dublin’s former world champion Ken Doherty – only to lose out 4-3 in the last 32 to Gloucester’s Jack Lisowski.

Wilson beat Finland’s Robin Hull 4-0 before losing to eventual winner Neil Robertson 4-1.

John Astley went out in the first round 4-2 to Perth’s Scott Donaldson, while David Lilley was beaten in four straight frames by London’s Michael Georgiou.