Hawkeridge snooker player Ben Harrison (21056/5)

Starlet Ben Harrison is just one match away from becoming an England player.

The Hawkeridge cueman will take on Adam Duffy in the final of the English Association for Snooker and Billiards Under 19s tournament at Sheffield Academy on May 17.

If he wins Harrison will become a member of the England under 19s team, but the young cueman is under no illusions of the challenge the England international of five years will pose.

Harrison said: "He's the best of the crop that's around at the moment and I think he's turning professional next season.

"All the pressure is on him and I'll definitely be the underdog, but if I'm at the table there's nothing he can do about it. I'd love to win but I'm just going to take it frame by frame."

Harrison reached the final by winning three qualifying matches at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

The 16-year-old was heading for the exit door in the first round at 3-1 down to Gene Lam, but fought back to win 4-3. He beat Callum Waite 4-2 before defeating England player Alan Moore 5-3 in the semi-final.

He pocketed £300 for his performance but will take £600 should he win the final against Duffy.

Harrison prefaced his performance in Leeds by watching two sessions of Ali Carter's World Championship semi-final against Joe Perry at The Crucible, Sheffield.

Not content with just being a spectator, Harrison went to the CueZone at The Crucible and beat pro Jimmy Michie in a one-frame shootout, coming within three balls of clearing the table.

Harrison's performance in Leeds caps a stunning season in which he was runaway winner of the Southern Junior Tour.

His victory meant he qualified for the Premier Junior Tour next season, and he will also compete on Pontin's International Open Series, a feeder tour to the professional World Snooker circuit Harrison said: "The most important thing is getting to the Premier Tour next season but to be in the under 19s final, it hasn't quite sunk in. The Premier Tour will be for the experience of playing different players and travelling further away.

"I'm going to spend three to four days a week at Trowbridge College and three to four hours a day practising as well. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Not content with just playing right-handed, Harrison has taken a leaf out of Ronnie O'Sullivan's book and started practising left-handed.

He made a break of 51 in a match and has a top left-handed effort in practice of 74.

Harrison paid tribute to his mentor and sponsor Steve White, who he said had been invaluable to him in this campaign.

Harrison said: "Steve has done loads for me this season, I don't think I could have done it without him there, it's really nice to have someone supporting you.

When I'm not getting the run of the balls he tells me to keep going and it will all come together."

2:46pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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