Heston Malik (Sussex) has gatecrashed the quarter finals of the Boys U19 draw at the British National Junior Championships in Sheffield, thanks to a victory over 5/8 seed George Porter (Sussex) in the third round of the competition.
Malik took on Porter in the last 16, and took first game 12-10. Porter levelled before the Sussex-born 16-year-old moved into the lead again and Porter again levelled. It was Malik who was able to take a surprise victory, winning the fifth 11-9 to advance to the quarter finals.
Elsewhere in the Boys U19s, the top two seeds in Finnlay Withington (Lancs) and Jonah Bryant (Sussex) both safely made their way through to the quarters, Withington beating Harvey McIntyre with a remarkable scoreline of 11-0, 9-11, 11-2, 11-0.
In the Girls U19 it will be the top four seeds who will contest the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. After getting the better of Lara Newton (Essex) in the last eight, top seed and British Junior Open champion Torrie Malik (Sussex) will take on Layla Johnson (Yorks) in the semis. The other semi will pitch Asia Harris (Yorks) against Isabel McCullough (Kent) for a place in the final.
Cory Harding (Merseyside) downed 3/4 seed Jude Gibbins (Kent) to make it through to the semi-finals of the Boys U17 event, and he will now take on top seed Alex Broadbridge (Hants) in the last four. The other match in the semi-finals will see second seed Dylan Roberts (Kent) do battle with Wales’ Archie Turnbull.
In the Girls U17 Charlie McCrone (Lancs) caused a seeding upset as she defeated 3/4 seed Robyn McAlpine (Scotland) in straight games to set up a semi-final against Ellie Breach (Wales) in the last four. Top seed Amelie Haworth (Hants) will face off against Meha Shah (Warks) for a place in Sunday’s finals.
There were more surprises in the lower age groups as well. 5/8 seed Jake Johnston (Surrey) made his way into the last four of the Boys U15 competition, after beating Indie Flint (Surrey) in the quarters. Johnston will now face Ismail Khalil (Warks), while the other semi-final will pit top seed Ronnie Hickling (Surrey) against George Griffiths (Hants).
Nikita Goel (Surrey) caused an upset in the Girls U13 draw, overcoming Emily Hall (Warks) to advance to the quarters, where she will take on top seed Fearne Copley (Yorks) for a place in the semis. Elsewhere in the draw Ameerah Ismail (Warks), Phoebe Griffiths (Hants) and Esther Chak (Surrey) all made it safely through.
The Girls U15 competition is going to seeding so far, with the top four all making it through to the semi-finals. Emily Coulcher-Porter (Bucks) will play Harriet Broadbridge (Hants) while Mariam Eissa (Warks) will face off against Reka Kemecsei (Sussex).
The Boys U13, Boys U11 and Girls U11 are also all sticking to seeding so far, with top seeds Zack Greengrass (Sussex), Finley Brown (Leics) and Nadiya Ismail (Warks) all continuing to lead their respective draws.
The Mixed U9 is yet to get underway, beginning on Saturday morning.
The action will continue on Saturday at Abbeydale and Hallamshire, starting at 09.00 with the last matches due on at 18.20. All the finals will be played on the Glass Court at Abbeydale from 09.00 on Sunday.
