Michael White profile

ByEurosport

Published 27/02/2009 at 09:04 GMT

We continue our new feature profiling the game's rising stars with Michael White, who is already in the Guinness Book of Records for his snooker exploits.

SNOOKER Balls

Image credit: Imago

Full name: Michael White

Nationality: Welsh

Age: 17 (DOB: July 5, 1991)

Snooker

Hendon's blog: Dreaming of the Crucible

25/02/2009 at 11:11

World Ranking: N/A

Pontin's International Open Series (PIOS) Ranking: 20 (after five events)

Career highlights: 2006 world amateur champion. Youngest player to compile a century break. 2007 European U19 champion.

General: Few nine-year-olds get in the Guinness Book of Records for sporting achievements, but that is exactly what young Michael White did when he completed a break of 105 in 2001 to become the youngest player to compile a century. Since then he has won Welsh titles at various age groups and also the European U19 Championship. His finest achievement to date is winning the 2006 World Amateur Championship at the age of just 14, which earned him a place on the professional tour.

Strengths: Tremendous natural ability is the strongest part of White's game. He picked up a cue for the first time when he was seven and within two years found himself compiling a century break. He has a fearless attitude at the table and his confidence has allowed him to compete against older players from a young age.

Weaknesses: White was undone during his first season on the pro tour simply because he did not have enough experience at that level. He dropped out after one season and was not helped by the fact World Snooker forbade him from playing in the opening event of the season - the Shanghai Masters - because he was still only 15. This season he has dropped down to PIOS level, but made the final in the only event he has played so far.

Trivia:

Favourite film: Braveheart; favourite TV show: The Sopranos.

Started playing snooker aged seven, when he took shelter in a snooker club with his brother and father when they were caught in the rain.

Welsh champion at U4, under-16 and U19 level.

Sporting hero: Muhammad Ali.

Nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2007.

Resident professional at the Whitez Snooker Club in the Uplands, Swansea.

From Neath - the same town as snooker pro Dominic Dale.

Beat Tony Drago in the group stage of the 2007 Grand Prix.

World Championship