A REMARKABLE 10-year-old from Winklebury, Mickey Joyce, has taken over top spot in the Cuestars South of England under-21 Silver Tour snooker rankings.

Demon potter Joyce leads after clinching the fourth leg at the Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth.

Joyce, based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, near Southampton, explained his strategy was ‘to keep on potting balls’ when trailing by 30 points in the first frame of the final.

Spurred on by watching clubmate Luke Beebe claim the bronze final, Joyce overcame Matt Gillon from Stoke SC, Gosport 2-0 to win in the silver showdown.

Joyce – last season’s bronze tour champion – admitted it was a hard match, but said his toughest battle, was a 2-0 quarter-final victory over the leg-two winner – 14-year-old Jasmine Bolsover from Woking Snooker Centre.

He then beat home player Anthony Church from Bournemouth in the last four also 2-0.

Joyce, who attends Winklebury Junior School in Basingstoke, is sponsored by Surrey-based Falcon Pools.

He also competes on the EASB Regional Junior Tour and last month compiled his first competitive half-century break, a 54 in the Eastleigh and District Under-18 League.

His win in Bournemouth followed semi-final exits in the previous two legs.