A PLAYER who has competed against many of our region’s top youngsters on the junior circuit makes his Crucible debut on Monday.

The phenomenal 17-year-old Judd Trump steps out into the spiritual home of snooker’s World Championships in Sheffield at 10 am on St George’s day to face the 2005 champion Shaun Murphy.

Stories of ‘how I took a frame off Judd Trump’ are often told at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, but not many can claim to have beaten the classy left-hander (and I don’t mean Will ‘The Beard’ Baird), although all aspire to achieve his level of skill.

Judd dominated the national junior tournaments for many years before being granted a wildcard onto the Main Tour two years ago. Now provisionally ranked world No 51, the Bristol-based professional is the envy of youngsters everywhere. If Judd overcomes Shaun he faces another former World Champion, Steve Davis or John Parrott, in the next round.

At the age of 14, Judd beat Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record and became the youngest player to score a maximum 147 break in a recognised tournament, at Coalville.

He once graced the tables at Chandler’s Ford in a southern regional qualifier for the EASB nationals. Even the referees were in awe of him. Two years ago at Prestatyn I asked his dad Steve how many tournament centuries the then 15-year-old had chalked up. Apparently, they stopped counting at 150.

Recently, our Nick Jennings travelled to Keynsham Snooker Club for a practice session with Judd. Nick broke off in the first frame and didn’t get another shot as Judd stroked in a 147.

Perhaps in 2015, players across the country will be telling stories of how they once took a frame off that young lad from Chandler’s Ford.