JOHN SKILLETT has bagged his first competitive century break. Playing in the Individual League at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Thursday night, the 28-year-old knocked up a 108 clearance against fellow island player Adrian Holley. It matched Martyn Desperques’ best of the season.
‘I was a bit nervous,’ he said.
‘It was my first competitive ton so it was a bit of a barrier to get over. I’ve made a fair few in practice games but never competitively.’
To get to his milestone, Skillett had to endure a sweaty moment on 76 when a short positional shot left him with a double-up on the final red.
He missed but the snooker gods must have been smiling favourably on him as he trebled it instead into the opposite pocket and left him in a good position.
‘I was lucky there as it ended up on the brown and I then cleared up the colours,’ he said.
The break happened in the third frame of the match that helped him take a 5-0 win over Holley.
The victory cements his third place in the league behind Adam Shorto and Desperques, who are the two players who usually grab the limelight for getting into triple figures.
‘There are about half-a-dozen other good players in the league who are capable of getting century breaks but for some reason haven’t done it,’ said Skillett.
Skillett feels that his game has improved since the Individual League was introduced this season.
The competition was brought in to allow the top cueists more time at the table against quality opposition.
‘It helps that we’re playing the Individual League,’ he said.
‘Usually we play only once a week but with this it’s now a few times a week.’
Skillett’s next opponent in the league is the high-flying Shorto.
‘I’ve been playing some decent stuff and it’s going to be a tough game against Sumo [Shorto] but hopefully it will be a good match,’ said Skillett.
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