IT’S been a successful start to the year for young snooker prodigy Johnny Blaise Collier after winning three consecutive competitions and making his first century break.

The 13-year-old from Dodworth has also made the reserve list for the England under-21 team - and he’s got his sights set on reaching the top of the sport.

The Young Champions award winner has gained valuable experience competing in practice matches against professional Sanderson Lam.

His mum, Rachel, told the Chronicle: “Early in the month Johnny rectified last year’s runner-up place by becoming the Leeds under-16s snooker champion without dropping a frame.

“The following day he made his first century break in a competitive match in Halifax.

“The following weekend he won the regional qualifiers of the English under-14s championships held at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

“He did it without conceding a frame and making a fantastic 81 break in the semi-finals along the way.

“To cap it all off in the final weekend of January he defeated players from Pontefract, Leeds and Halifax on the way to becoming the Yorkshire under-16s snooker champion 2026.

“January also saw the final event of the under-21s English Junior Snooker Tour.

“Johnny made it through to the final stages of three out of the five events and finished a respectable 23rd overall in the under--21s.

“This earned him an official nomination from the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (ESPB) to be an England under-16s team reserve for the upcoming European Snooker Championships held in Spain in February.

“It’s a great feat considering his age and this being his first year on tour.”