There was a Q-Tour event in my native country, Belgium, this week-end, but, of course, living in Greece now, I missed it. Ashley Carty won it. His victory brought back memories… I have known Ashley since he was around 15, playing in the PTCs. There was a rather huge and lively group of young Brits at those events. Many of them turned pro at some point over the last decade, with various fortunes on the tour. There was a lot of teasing each other and banter, but when one of them was a the table they had unconditional support from the group. They were very different characters but one thing united them: their love for the sport. I’m happy for Ashley. I’m sure he worked hard for this opportunity to compete in the play-offs for a new Tour card.
Victory for the 30-year-old Englishman saw him become the fifth different title winner during the campaign and secure a guaranteed place at next month’s Q Tour Global Play-Offs in Spain, where a trio of two-year World Snooker Tour (WST) tour cards will be on offer.
The penultimate event of the Q Tour Europe series saw the race for the top spot in the ranking list, which guarantees a two-year WST tour card, heading towards an exciting conclusion.
Jamie Clarke arrived in Mons knowing that the title could potentially confirm his return to the professional ranks, but a last 32 defeat to Germany’s Umut Dikme denied the Welshman – while nearest chasers Peter Lines, Hammad Miah and Stuart Carrington each also failed to reach the concluding day of action in Mons.
Carty, meanwhile, had failed to make it beyond the last 16 stage of a Q Tour event during the campaign but secured the title by winning through a field of 78 players from 20 countries at the Delta Moon Snooker Club.
The 30-year-old kicked off the event in style by round off a 4-1 win against France’s Yannick Tarillon with a break of 125 – his highest of the competition.
A deciding frame victory over Oliver Briffett-Payne, from 2-0 behind, was then followed by a 4-1 defeat of Dikme to earn a place in the quarter-finals.
The last eight line-up was made up entirely of Englishmen and Carty downed George Pragnell (4-1) and Oliver Sykes (4-2) to set up a title match meeting with Steadman.
The 43-year-old former professional was appearing in his second Q Tour Europe final of the season, following a loss to double-champion Clarke at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds last November, and had reached the same stage once more in Mons by last beating Ashley Hugill 4-2.
A break of 85 gave Carty the opener but Steadman quickly hit back with a half-century of his own to restore parity.
It was a high-scoring battle in the early stages and Carty restored his one-frame advantage with a contribution of 116, before taking the next on the colours to move within one frame of glory at 3-1.
A confident display in the fifth secured Carty the crown in Mons and following his victory he said: “I feel great. I’ve hit some good form over the last few months and won quite a few tournaments in England – my confidence has gone through the roof.”
“I am over the moon to secure my place in the Q Tour Global Play-Offs, that was one of my objectives at the start of the season so I’m thrilled. It was heartbreaking to drop off the Tour but you’ve got to get your head around it and get on with it. It would mean everything to get back on the Tour – I won the Play-Offs a few years ago and so hopefully I can that again!” he added.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 