After a sluggish start against first-time Island Championship finalist and good friend John Skillett, he ultimately emerged a 5-0 winner in Saturday night’s showdown at the North Social Club.
Shorto’s success was not to be taken for granted. Skillett had upset him in this season’s Masters semi-final, going on to win the competition for the first time, while even reaching the final was a step beyond where he got last year – the in-form Paul Le Sauvage made sure of that.
But he was pleased enough to get the job done and set up a meeting with Jersey great Aaron Canavan this Friday.
‘It’s amazing, and it’s been a couple of years,’ said a player whose title tally is topped only by the 12 apiece of Martyn Desperques and Norman Wale.
‘I lost narrowly to Paul last year in the semi-finals – Paul was brilliant and deserved his win – but it’s nice to come back in here and get on the right side of it this year.’
In a best-of-nine final refereed by reigning champion Le Sauvage, Shorto continued a run of form that had included winning the Open final against the same opponent at this venue.
Skillett held his own in the first two frames and if not for the odd ball just refusing to be potted at pivotal points, it could have been a very different story.
Shorto allowed his opponent to chip away to a 30-0 lead in the opener, before striking back decisively with a 44 break that would remain the best of the night.
He then built upon that advantage to take the first frame 63-40.
In frame two, Skillett answered Shorto’s early 20 break with a 36-point visit, which gave him the upper hand.
But he could not hold it and another solid break allowed Shorto to prevail 59-37 and carry over a significant psychological advantage.
In the third frame, Shorto left his opponent in the chair and unable to answer for much of it, firing off three 20-plus breaks to take it 71-8.
Another dominant frame from Shorto, featuring a 33 break, went 67-4 in his favour and put him on the brink of victory.
A 15min. interval followed, but he picked up where he left off and two additional 20-plus breaks put him firmly on the front foot in the fifth frame.
Shorto ultimately took the frame 68-20 and with it the title.
‘Firstly, I was supportive for John, because he’s had a great season, he’s such a brilliant player and we’ve grown up playing together,’ the winner added.
‘He’s a really close friend of mine and it’s hard to play a good friend in the final, but it was also really nice to do that in a way.
‘The first two frames were the key ones, I think, because for John it’s his first final and you want to settle in, get a frame.
‘That first one was very close – he had opportunities and I had opportunities and I ended up nicking it.
‘And a close second one, that could have been 2-0 to him but it’s 2-0 to me, and it’s a huge swing.
‘Then I’m settled into the game and John’s still trying to find that moment. That was a huge part of the match.’
Scoreline aside, Skillett embraced the experience of being in an Island final, and especially one against such a classy player who has been there for his whole snooker journey.
‘I really enjoyed it,’ he said.
‘My first ever day at snooker club at 13 years old, I met Adam, and he was 11 years old.
‘We played a lot together in the Island team – and I’ve got to other finals, but the Island championships had kind of eluded me over the years.
‘We did say before the final, whoever wins, we’d both be pleased with one another.
‘I’m chuffed to bits for him though I didn’t quite perform how I’d like to. I started off OK, and if I win one of those first two frames, maybe the first two, then it’s a different match, but full credit to him – he’s a worthy champion and one of the best players Guernsey’s ever seen.’
To reach that stage, Shorto had sailed through his semi-final, claiming a 4-0 victory over Danny Marquand.
Meanwhile, Skillett had overcome Jamie Le Cheminant 4-2 to make his first Island final.
