Right on Cue: Jordan Brown

ByEurosport

Published 03/06/2009 at 16:03 GMT

We continue our feature profiling rising stars with a look at Jordan Brown, who earned a spot on the main tour after topping the Northern Irish standings.

Snooker balls

Image credit: Eurosport

Full name: Jordan Brown

Nationality: Northern Irish

Age: 21

World Championship

Wilson achieves career-high ranking after claiming world title glory at Crucible

9 hours ago

World Ranking: N/A

Career highlights: Northern Ireland champion 2008 and 2009; Northern Ireland number one 2008/2009 season; All-Ireland U21 champion 2006 and 2007.

General: Brown booked his spot on the main tour by topping the Northern Irish rankings with a 10-4 victory over Dermot McGlinchey in the Northern Ireland championship final. The 21-year-old also won the event in 2008 but will forgo the chance to become the first player to win it three years running to take a crack at the big boys for the first time.

Strengths: Brown's comprehensive victory over McGlinchey suggests he is a player itching for the big stage. It was a highly pressurised match as the winner would top the rankings and move on to the pro tour. McGlinchey was still in it after the opening session and trailed just 5-4, but Brown won five frames in a row to claim a comprehensive victory. Brown may not have had the stand-out junior career of others on tour, but he knows how to take his chances and has a very good record in finals. His safety play has impressed many onlookers.

Weaknesses: The main tour will present Brown with a new challenge and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to cope with the step up in class. Thus far, snooker has effectively been a hobby but now he hopes to make it his livelihood and with that comes new pressures and expectations. He will have to improve his break building on the main tour as he will be limited to just one or two chances per frame, and mini-breaks are unlikely to be enough to win games.

Trivia

Awarded Youth Sports Bursary from the Enkalon Foundation and Antrim Council.

Works as a shop assistant but hopes to give that up to pursue snooker career.

Beat professionals Michael Judge, Fergal O'Brien and Patrick Wallace to reach final of 2006 Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy, before losing to Joe Swail.

Keen Manchester United fan.

Sporting heroes are Ronnie O'Sullivan, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

Has a fear of heights.

Favourite band is Bon Jovi.

Plays out of the Fountain Club in Antrim, where Mark Allen can often be found practising.

World Championship