IT WAS an all-East Sussex final on the opening day of the Cuestars Masters Tour, sponsored by SnookerHub, at Woking Snooker Centre.
Ashley Beal (pictured above) earned bragging rights over his clubmate Andy Norman with a 2-0 victory to clinch the first leg of the SnookerHub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over.
The former English Over-55s Champion from Maresfield took the first frame on the black but won the next quite comfortably to collect the £80 prize.
Both first-time finalists are based at the Castle Snooker Club, Brighton
Home player Gavin Bolsover and David Moritz (Pinner) made their Masters debuts.
The high-quality field recorded 13 breaks of 40 or more.
John Hunter (Andover) and Phil Butler (Bournemouth), who finished last season ranked first and second respectively, made semi-final exits.
Organisers thanked hosts Woking SC and Masters player Dennis Tristram (Croxley Green, Herts) for sponsoring the event.
Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of ten on Wednesday, October 9.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 68, 44.
Ashley Beal: 67, 49, 45, 41.
Gavin Bolsover: 52, 45, 45.
David Moritz: 52, 41.
Al Maher: 47.
Dennis Tristram: 43.
RESULTS
ROUND-ROBINGROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Ashley Beal (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Gavin Bolsover (Woking SC); 4th, Kevin Morris (Woking SC).
ROUND-ROBINGROUP B: 1st, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).
ROUND-ROBINGROUP C: 1st, Al Maher (Frames, Coulsdon); 2nd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Mark Burrell (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).
ROUND-ROBINGROUP D: 1st, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club).
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 10 pts): Hunter 2-1 Tristram, Norman 2-0 Moritz, Butler 2-0 Thomas, Beal 2-0 Maher.
SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Norman 2-1 Hunter, Beal 2-0 Butler.
FINAL (£80/£40, 25/18 pts): Beal 2-0 Norman.
To find out more about Cuestars, visit https://www.cuestars.co.uk/