SNOOKER: Symes aims for home glory against world's best

The 16-year-old will line up with the likes of world number one Reanne Evans for the Southern Classic, the fourth leg of the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association Tour, at Jesters Snooker Hall on Saturday.

Six-time world champion Evans, 25, is on a record run of 76 consecutive victories on the WLBSA circuit.

Her last defeat was on March 1, 2008 and she has won the last 18 tournaments she has entered.

Symes, the world number 17, will be joined by two other Wiltshire players in Gaye Jones of Melksham and Victoria Gibbs of Trowbridge.

Also amongst a high-quality, 16-strong field are world number two Maria Catalano, who is the cousin of professional snooker ace Ronnie O’Sullivan, and third-ranked Emma Bonney of Portsmouth. The action starts at 10am.

The WLBSA is hosting six ranking events this season, culminating in the World Championships in April.

Meanwhile, Swindon’s Oliver Parsons is making a late charge up the Cuestars South of England Under 21 Silver Tour rankings.

Parsons, who had not been past the quarter-finals in the four previous tournaments, defeated current leader Daniel Winfield (Westbury) 2-0 in the semi-final of the fifth leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

And he continued his excellent form by seeing off Dean Matthews (Ivy Leaf Club) by the same score in the final.

Parsons may have stuttered through the group stages but he sailed through the knockout without dropping a frame.

He accounted for Ryan Gavin (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2-0 in the last-eight before embarking on his charge to the title.

Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Group A winner Thomas Lancastle (Keynsham SC) halted the progress of Symes. Lancastle was knocked out by Matthews in the semis.

Matthews defeated Joshua Lee (Jesters, Swindon) 2-1. And, making his Cuestars debut, Scott Sugden (Chandler’s Ford SC) lost 2-0 to Winfield.

The sixth leg of the eight-tournament series is at Salisbury Snooker Club on March 6.