A HAMPSHIRE teenager enjoyed his first taste of champagne after being crowned champion of a regional snooker circuit.

Steven Hughes survived a tense day of unexpected twists and turns to finish top of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour rankings.

“Last Sunday was the best time of my life,” declared the 13-year-old from Chandler’s Ford.

He will receive his trophy from professional Joe Perry on finals day in Swindon on May 17 and play an exhibition frame against the world number nine.

Hughes had reached six of the previous seven finals, winning two, and took a seven-point lead over Bristol potter Aidan Murphy into the last leg.

Neither title-rival had failed to qualify for the knockouts all season. But both made shock group-stage exits at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Hughes, based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, was beaten by clubmate Ryan Hughes (no relation) and Gosport’s Ben Crump - and then lost a three-way play-off for the second qualifying spot.

Meanwhile, Murphy went down in his first match to the eventual tournament winner David Rice (Fordingbridge) and lost a must-win last group game on the final black to the player ranked 13th.

Revealing the moment the race was won, Hughes, a Year 9 pupil at Toynbee School, said: “I’d just come back from beating Bowen (Zhu) and Bradley Cowdroy came to my shoulder and said ‘Aidan’s just lost to Albert Warren’.

“It’s been a great season, especially because of all the time and effort that I’ve put in and people like (World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley) and my parents (Richard and Sally) have gone through this whole season.”

And he added: “Credit to Aidan - and credit to Albert for beating him.”

Hughes, who celebrated with an Indian takeaway and champagne (which was “all right”), had surprised everyone by making the quarter-finals in his first two Cuestars events at the end of last season.

Dunkley said: “I told his parents it was the worst thing that could have happened as he’d now expect that every time.

“But it’s quite extraordinary what he has achieved. To reach the next six finals was astonishing.

“His game has grown in stature over the last seven months, especially his matchplay. He practises hard and is so determined. When he’s composed and focused, he’s a dangerous player who could progress to competing nationally in the future.”