Big interview – Havant snooker starlet Jamie Wilson bidding to establish himself on the professional tour

The Havant-based potter has already achieved a lifelong ambition this year by earning the right to mix it with the world's best.

But the 17-year-old is determined to make the most of the 'mental' chance he has given himself.

The former Park Community School pupil had arrived at the third Q School event in Sheffield earlier this year keen to take in the experience and seize the opportunity to test himself against some former professionals and rising stars.

He had saved money from local competition wins in order to afford the £1,000 entry fee.

Six wins later, Wilson had relegated Michael Georgiou into the amateur ranks and bagged himself a two-year place on the sport's main tour - becoming the youngest English player ever to do so in the process.

But the teenager does not want that success to define him; he is now eager to kick on and climb the rankings.

‘It was mental,' Wilson reflected.

‘I wasn’t expecting anything at Q School.

‘In the last event I beat Michael Georgiou and I beat something like three ex-pros.

‘Michael was like number 68 in the world or something, so he had to beat me to stay on tour. ‘It was mental because he’s beaten loads of top pros and I beat him in Q School. It was pretty good.

‘Obviously, I had bags of confidence when I got my tour card.

‘I haven’t really got the results I’ve wanted but I’m just keeping at it.

‘I just want to try to stay on the tour.

‘If I don’t, I’ll keep going, I’ll just go back into Q School in the same year and hopefully get back on and just keep working at my game.'

Wilson has been a regular in the Portsmouth Snooker League for Waterlooville in recent years, and in March of this year, prior to the pandemic, he beat Nick Fegan (Emsworth) 4-0 in the final of The Graham Simper Cup at Craneswater Snooker Club to be crowned Portsmouth champion.

Still in his early stages on the pro circuit, Wilson - who first picked up a cue aged six - is finding out first-hand the levels required to cut it in the professional ranks.

He has yet to claim a first tour triumph in seven attempts, although he did share four frames with Mark Allen in the Championship League group stage in September.

Allen, 34, is currently ranked No 8 in the world - he was as high as no 4 earlier this year - and has won five rankings tournaments.

Wilson also drew 2-2 with fellow Hampshire player Billy Castle in the Championship League, and won £1,000 for finishing third in his round-robin group.

Elsewhere, the competition has been stiff with defeats also coming against world number 26 Matthew Selt (English Open) and former World Championship finalist Nigel Bond in the Northern Ireland Open earlier this week.

The 55-year-old Bond - with career earnings of over £1.8m since turning professional, 14 years before Wilson was born - compiled breaks of 76 and 61 in his 4-1 success.

Wilson will be better for these experiences so early in his tour days, though, and has taken positives from some of his defeats.

‘I actually played well in that match (against Bond),' said Wilson.

‘I went 2-0 down straight away - he played alright.

‘I had a 70-break to make it 2-1 and in the next frame I should have won that and then it was 3-1 to him.

‘He beat me on the colours (in the final frame). I actually think I played alright in that match but his experience got the better of me really - his safety game and that.’

‘Yeah, I’d say so (the draw with Mark Allen being a highlight).

‘Even that match made me realise I’ve still got so much to work on.

‘I went something like 50 ahead in one of those frames and he won it.

‘It just shows me that I’ve got a lot to work on, but that was probably my highlight.'

The teenager is putting in the hard work, practicing six hours a day for five days a week.

Snooker is currently Wilson's full-time focus and he has been making the four-hour round trip to Wiltshire to train at Stephen Lee's academy up to five days a week.

He has also had coach Tim Dunkley by his side since 2017 and thanks him for his help in reaching the professional ranks.

‘Literally every round I won in Q School I called him. He was just giving me helpful advice to keep going and that,' added Wilson.

‘He’s a great coach, he’s helped me so much.

‘I struggle with concentration quite badly.

‘He just helped me really, gave me good advice, and I just kept going strong.

‘Obviously, he helps me with my technical part of the game and all of my weaknesses and all of that.

‘It’s just amazing at the academy (Stephen Lee's).

‘It was lockdown when it first started.

‘It wasn’t too long ago that it started. I didn’t have too many people to practice with and I just wanted some match practice so I decided to get signed up there.

‘It’s usually there and back in a day, but it’s quite a trek - about a four hour round-trip - and I go there five days a week.

‘But it’s worth it.'

Wilson is now preparing for his next test on the professional circuit.

He has been handed a tough UK Championship first round meeting with Allen next Thursday which will be broadcast live on British Eurosport.

The UK Championship is one of snooker's prestigious Triple Crown events, along with the World Championship and the Masters.

It is the second-biggest ranking tournament, after the World Championship. Normally held in York, it is being staged in Milton Keynes - the venue is on the same site as the MK Dons football stadium - due to the pandemic.