THE cruellest of cruel flukes eclipsed Chandler’s Ford teenager Steven Hughes’ euphoria of a new high break just half an hour previously.

Taking a seven-point lead into the final leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour in Salisbury next month is scant consolation for the 13-year-old.

Hughes survived a three-way play-off to top his round-robin group in the penultimate event at Fareham Snooker Club and earn a quarter-final clash with title-rival Aidan Murphy.

Victory would have secured the championship.

Ten-year-old Murphy, who plays county pool for Bristol and was one frame from qualifying for the England under-18 pool team, took the first frame of the best-of-three match.

Hughes responded with a personal best 43 break and then led by 13 points in the decider.

But, when potting the final brown with the rest, he cannoned the pink that was on the top cushion and watched in disbelief as a double kiss squirted the cue-ball along the rail and into a corner pocket.

Murphy cleared to snatch victory on the black and went on to win the final.

Hughes’ World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, who watched the drama unfold, said: “It was heart-breaking stuff.

“But Steven showed immense character under extreme pressure to make a magnificent break in the second frame and he had the lad beat in the third.

“Two days later, he was back on the practice table with me at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club doing things that he wasn’t capable of previously.

“He came of age during that match and he can right a wrong in Salisbury.”