RILEY Ellis claimed his third tournament win of the season to blow open the title race on the Cuestars U21 Silver Tour.

The 14-year-old, from near Royal Wootton Bassett, defeated Swindon’s Shane Kearns 2-1 in the final of the eighth leg at Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant.

It means only 11 points separate the two Wiltshire teenagers and two other players with two legs remaining.

Ellis had lost 2-1 to Kearns in the round-robin group stages, but he raised his game in the final.

Earlier, Ellis scraped through his group as one of the two best third-place finishers and overcame Portsmouth’s Samuel Laxton 2-0 in the last-eight.

He then defeated Nat Kidner (Bournemouth) 2-1 in the semi-finals.

Ellis is now just two points shy of rankings leader Louie Leighton (Basildon), who was knocked out 2-0 by Kearns in the semis.

Kearns is eight points further back in third, one ahead of Richard Hillgrove (Southend).

The foursome cross cues again in the ninth leg at Salisbury Snooker Club on April 7 and then finish the season on Ellis’ home tables at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club on May 5.

Renowned table fitter Trevor Sanders sponsored the event and presented the trophies.

The previous day, Ellis, who won the second leg in Waterlooville and the fourth in London, reached the quarter-finals on the EASB Regional Junior Tour at Racks Snooker & Pool Bar, Maidenhead.