Welsh heartbreak for Oldham pros

Photo: Darren Robinson

HAMZA AKBAR.

OLDHAM snooker professionals Michael Wild and Hamza Akbar suffered narrow 4-3 defeats in the Welsh Open in Cardiff.

Wild trailed Jimmy Robertson 2-0 before hitting back to lead 3-2. Robertson won the last two frames to make it heartbreak for the Moorside potter.

Oldham Snooker Academy ace Hamza Akbar also had a great match against the experienced Michael Holt.

He took the first frame, but lost the next three before hitting back to level the scores.

A 52 break in the decider looked to have clinched it for Akbar, but Holt replied with 38 before the Oldham-based player missed a crucial yellow to allow his rival to win.



Oldham Academy youngsters are performing with distinction. Saif Amin has qualified for the England under-16s championship last-16, while Ben Murphy has reached the under-18 final stages.

But 13 year old Newman College pupil Ryan Davies is making the biggest splash. He reached the last 16 of the England under-16s event by topping a group that included his OSA mates Amin and Murphy.

He is also through to the finals of the under-14s and under-18s competitions.