Published: 14/11/2010 09:00 - Updated: 12/11/2010 11:31

Hot-shot Sam's top 151 frame is not just down to spot of pot luck

NICK SMITH

An amateur snooker ace is believed to have become the youngest ever to score more than 147 in a frame.

Sam Harvey, 17, from Silver End Road, Haynes clocked 151, four above the normal maximum score on Monday and is one of only seven people who have scored higher than the maximum.

He has recently left school and is playing snooker in the hope of turning professional.

He said: “I am confident that I am the youngest person ever to exceed the maximum and am waiting on confirmation to see if I am the only amateur.”

On how he achieved the feat he said: “I was playing a local professional, who played a foul shot, leaving me snookered, so I was able to play a free ball, meaning I can nominate any coloured ball to be a red for this shot.”

This effectively meant there was an extra red on the table, which allowed Sam to reach a total higher than the normal maximum.

He then potted 13 blacks, a blue and two pinks which left him with a score of 151. “I was shocked when I’d finished the frame, I just didn’t believe I had done it.”

Greyfriars Snooker Club’s Nigel Gilbert said: “It’s a feat and half to do this, it was a phenomenal performance. To put it in perspective, most people never get a chance to even have the opportunity to pull something like this off by having a free ball. To actually pull it off is something special.”

The former UK under-16 No2 is now currently ranked fourth in the UK under-21 rankings and has high hopes for his future in the sport.

Sam added: “I am playing in a tournament every week up until Christmas and am hoping to turn professional next year.”

When asked what his ultimate aspirations were in the sport he said “I want to be World No.1 and World Champion, just the same as every other kid does.”