Right on Cue: Michael Leslie

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Jul 09:08:00 2009

We continue our profiles of snooker's rising stars with a look at Michael Leslie, one of Scotland's bright young talents.

SNOOKER Snooker generic - 0

Name: Michael Leslie

Nationality: Scottish

Age: 16 (DOB: 28/01/1993)

World Ranking: N/A

Career highlights: 2009 Scottish U21 and U19 national champion. 2008 Scottish U16 champion. Represented Scotland at the 2009 European U19 Championship in St. Petersburg and reached the last 16 before losing to eventual winner Luca Brecel.

General: Along with earlier 'Right on Cue' subject Anthony McGill (see link below picture), Leslie is one of the great hopes of the Scottish game. He finished last season as Scotland's top ranked U16 player and is well on his way to doing the same at U19 level this campaign after winning the national championship last May. On the same weekend that he won the title he also won the U21 event and his hunger for the game has seen his results consistently improve.

Strengths: Leslie's greatest strength is his sheer determination to become a professional snooker player. This passion is helped by fantastic backing from his parents, who own the snooker club in Bonnyrigg where Leslie used to practise. They have since built an extension to their house so thir son can practise on a full size table at home. Leslie practises six to seven hours a day and his game has been praised by John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and his coach Chris Small, a former top-16 player.

Weaknesses: Leslie needs to gain experience playing competitions outside of Scotland. The experience of playing at the European U19 Championship will be invaluable while he has also travelled to face England and Wales's top players more and more in the last couple of years. Like many younger players, safety is an area of the game he needs to improve.

Trivia

Was named 2008 Midlothian Junior Sports Personality of the Year.

Competed in the 2007 Junior Pot Black.

Started playing aged six and would stand on the same box as a young Stephen Hendry when playing on full sized tables.

Is a football fan and supports Hearts. He used to play for Hearts Youth Club and scored 58 goals in one season.

Favourite player is John Higgins.

Favourite film is Girl Next Door.

Highest break in competition: 110. Highest break in practice: 145.

Once made eight half-century breaks in a 12-frame match.

Sean Fay / Eurosport

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