Dean Young just three victories away from snooker pro card

Capital snooker ace Dean Young is only three wins away from a place on World

Snooker’s Main Tour.

The 18 year-old, who plays at Locarno Snooker Club in Edinburgh, is one of eight qualifiers taking part in the Challenge Tour playoffs today at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The winner will earn themselves a coveted two-year World Snooker Tour card.

Young is one of eight amateur players who came through after ten qualifying events throughout the season contested across the UK and Europe before the sport’s Covid-19 lockdown. The capital ace finished fourth in the rankings, mainly helped by winning event seven in Belgium.

Young said: “The tournament win in Belgium was my biggest achievement in snooker so far and gave me confidence that I could compete at that level. I have had a good season and also made my debut on tv so I definitely feel I am going in the right direction.”

Young, who went to Firhill high school and who has been playing since the age of seven, said he will have to be on top form if he is going to achieve his dream of breaking through on to the main tour. Young takes on Englishman Rory McLeod, who spent 18 years on the professional tour, dropping off the circuit last year.

He added “It is going to be really tough. The standard is really high and some of the guys I am up against have got loads of experience at the top level in the game. However, if I play as well as I can do then I stand every chance.”

All eight players will also feature as wildcards in the world championship qualifiers, which start on Wednesday. Qualification to the Crucible stages would also earn a pro card.