RISING snooker star Connor Benzey defeated the current English Under-18 Champion to claim a first winner’s trophy on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour.

The 15-year-old from Eastleigh overcame rankings leader Mark Lloyd 2-1 in a dramatic final at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.

Gosport-based Lloyd, 17, fluked a re-spotted black to take the lead, went in-off the black in the next to square the match and conceded when needing snookers with two reds left in the decider.

Benzey, who pocketed £85 prize money, had lost to Lloyd in the group stages of the event sponsored by Swindon-based Smarter Cue Sports but fancied his chances when the pair met again.

“I felt good,” he said. “I thought I could beat him.

“I played well in the final and made four breaks of over 30. That’s the reason why I won.”

Earlier, he recorded a tough 2-1 last-eight victory over 21-year-old England pool international Jack Smithers (Tadworth).

Benzey said: “Every time I came to the table I was in trouble because his safety play was good.”

And he then defeated Chandler’s Ford clubmate Mickey Joyce 2-0 in a “scrappy” semi-final.

It’s been a rapid rise through the Cuestars ranks for the teenager, who made his Bronze Tour debut a little over three years ago in February, 2014. He won the Bronze play-off championship the following season and the Silver rankings title in 2015/16.

Lloyd needs just one point from the last two legs to retain his rankings title. Benzey and Joyce (Basingstoke) are joint second.

Elsewhere, Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford) recorded his highest match break of 82 against Smithers in the group stages.

Sixth-placed Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) was knocked out 2-0 by Lloyd in the semi-finals.

And Mike Trigg (East Wellow) can consider himself unlucky to have finished bottom of his group on frames difference after all five players won two matches.

The ninth leg of ten is at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club on Sunday, April 9.