Teenage snooker star targeting titles after scoring his first maximum break in Leeds

Liam Pullen is just 17 but is already cultivating a reputation as a prodigy on the snooker scene.

He makes the journey from York to Leeds via train every morning to practice at Northern Snooker Centre on Kirkstall Road.

He recently scored his first highest possible break in a single frame of snooker, which involves potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points before potting all six colours for a further 27 points.

“I was feeling it and I was shaking a bit, I was definitely feeling nerves,” he said. “But I thought, ‘I've had lots of chances of getting one, I really want it now, because I'll be gutted if I don’t’.”

Liam was just six years old when his grandmother bought him a small snooker table, which lit the fuse on his burning ambition to carve out a career in the sport.

Over a decade later, he is still laser-focused on his goals.

"I definitely want a career and I want to win titles, that is the aim,” he explained “There's no point sitting around outside the top 16, I want to achieve something.”

At Northern Snooker Centre, he is in an ideal place for the development of his snooker skills.

It is at the Leeds club that he trains with an array of professional and amateur players, including his coach Peter Lines.

"Their support has been very good,” he said. “The facilities there are very good, and the players they've got makes for a very good atmosphere.

"I becomes like a family, everyone supports everyone trying to achieve their goals.”

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One of his most notable achievements to date came earlier this year when he made it to the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship in Albania.

Liam’s exploits on the snooker scene have been supported by his family, who he says have offered “great support”.

"I've had great support from my mum and dad to be fair,” he said. “I couldn't have asked for any better, they support me and they understand when to not talk to me if I lose.

“It’s a tough mental sport.”