Champion Aaron inspired by Paul Hunter

THREE years after being inspired to play snooker by the late Paul Hunter, Aaron Murray has fulfilled his dream of winning the Eastleigh & District Under-13 Premier League.

Champion Aaron Murray

Despite missing the first three weeks of the season due to a family holiday, the 12-year-old clinched a first title with a week to spare.

“I said if I could get in the top three I’d be happy,” said left-hander Murray. “When Craig [Wilson] had a week off ill, I was just two points behind and that’s when I said I was going to go on and win it. No one was going to stop me.”

Murray was taken to watch an exhibition by three-time Masters champion Hunter, who died of cancer in 2006, as a ninth birthday present.

Harvey Dennis, 11, beat Wilson, 12, to edge out his rival for second place, by one point.

In the Division 1 title race, Scott Sugden lost to Jordan Prince on the black after needing a snooker on the pink. Andy Sheath, 11, beat Keiran Murray, nine, to claim the trophy by one point in the day’s final frame. Callum Leamon, 10, won Division 2.

Picture: Kevin Legg