Right on cue: Mark Boyle

Full name: Mark Boyle

Nationality: Scottish

Age: 28 (DOB: 19/02/1981)

World Ranking: N/A

Career highlights: Won 2009 Scottish Amateur National Championship and gained invite to the main tour for the 2009/10 season.

General: Shop manager Boyle has been threatening to become a top class snooker player for a long time. A junior Scottish champion, he performed well in amateur events and reached final of the 2006 IBSF World Grand Prix where he lost to event's youngest champion, 14-year-old Michael White.

On May 17, Boyle won the 2009 Amateur National Championship. Going into the tournament, Anthony McGill led the Scottish amateur rankings, but his dramatic 6-5 loss in the semi-finals opened the door for Boyle, who defeated Ross Vallance 7-0 in the final. The win gave Boyle his ticket for the main professional tour.

Strengths: Boyle plays for the enjoyment, coaches young players and is always willing to help out others. Late emergence at 28 means he is unlikely to be fazed by disappointment.

Weaknesses: Can struggle to turn promising starts into century breaks. Has never made a 147 in competition.

Trivia: Mark is the former head coach of Glasgow University's snooker team.

Hobbies include golf, 9-ball, poker, Pro Evolution Soccer, Tiger Woods golf, swimming.

Favourite song is 'Take me Out' by Franz Ferdinand, and favourite movie is Heat.