Irish teenager Joe Shannon is set to become the youngest-ever Irishman to compete on the professional Snooker circuit this weekend when he heads to the bays at the World Snooker Tour Shootout this weekend.
The Longford native who has just turned fourteen is already both the Irish U14 Champion and U16 Champion but will compete in his first senior event this Saturday.
The Snooker Shoot Out in Leicester is a quickfire tournament that sees all games played over a period of ten minutes, with a fifteen-second shot clock enforced for the opening five minutes and a ten-second shot clock for the closing five minutes.
Shannon will be on the table for the opening round of the tournament at 13:40pm on Saturday afternoon, and it will be the 14-year-olds first televised game.
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Irish youngster set for professional snooker debut
Despite only being in second year of school, Ireland's Joe Shannon dedicates nearly twenty hours a week to his trade, a commitment that paid off when his U14 and U16 victories earned him a wild card for this week's competition.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Shannon certainly wasn't letting any nerves he had show, claiming he was just buzzing to get playing with the professionals.
I can't wait. I got the news a few weeks ago, I'm buzzing to get over and get playing with the professional players...There's no pressure, so I can't wait for it. I just want to get over there, to know what it's like to be there with the best of the best, but it's all just experience really.
I put snooker in front of everything really, I'm still at school, but it's snooker mainly now, so its nice to see the rewards of being dedicated now.
I'm more excited now, but I presume when I get over there I'll be a bit nervous. But once I get playing, I'll be fine. I'm nervous at every competition, but once I get playing, I'm alright.
While Joe Shannon started playing snooker five years ago, it's only in the last two years that he has honed his trade.
Currently, the Longford man is being trained by former Irish professional and British Open Champion Fergal O'Brien, who also spoke to RTÉ about the 14-year-old's potential.
(Shannon) is a very impressive young man, let a lone Snooker player. He's had a lot of success already, works very hard, real dedicated. He still has so much to learn but days like this tournament are going to stand him in great stead.
Joe Shannon will be one of five Irish players including Mark Allen who will be competing at the World Snooker Tour Shootout this week.
Shannon's appearance will be broadcast live on Eurosport for Irish fans to tune into.
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