A TEENAGE snooker star from Bournemouth reckons he has regained the self-belief to have a crack at turning professional after landing a massive £1,000 jackpot.

Bradley Cowdroy won the Pro-Am Series at Waterlooville Sports Bar, the day after returning from the World Snooker Federation Championship in Sheffield.

The 19-year-old, who had reached the last 64 of what is effectively the world amateur championship, has regained the mental strength that he has always been renowned for.

He said: “I was really happy with how I competed in Sheffield earlier in the week and to carry that into this event and win my first Pro-Am is amazing.

“I can’t quite put my finger on why but, since the new year, I feel like I’m getting back the ‘Bradley of old’.

“Before the pandemic I was playing with a lot more authority and self-belief. I was a contender to win any tournament I played in.

“That mindset’s crucial against the likes of Connor (Benzey) and Jamie (Wilson) these days. If you don’t have that inner belief and they pick up on that, you might as well just start the car and leave.

“So it’s been a really important mental breakthrough that should stand me in good stead for the rest of the season and at Q School.”

However, it was looking like an early shower for Cowdroy in Waterlooville at 3-2 and 60 points down against Steve Nevett (Bournemouth) in the opening round but he pulled out a 70 clearance to the black to force a decider and that seemed to act as a catalyst for the rest of the day.

The talented left-hander then overcame James Height (Shepton Mallet) 4-1, Benzey (Eastleigh) 4-3 from 3-1 down, Christian Chislett (Southampton) 4-2 and world number 97 Wilson (Havant) 4-3 on the colours in the decider in the final.

The victory over Benzey included the tournament high break of 116, which earned Cowdroy an extra £50.

Four centuries and 35 other breaks of 50 or more were recorded by the high-quality field.

Cowdroy - who is sponsored by the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation and is based at Greenbaize Snooker Club, in Wallisdown Road – is now targeting Q School, an end-of-season series of tournaments run by World Snooker which offer two-year professional tour cards for the semi-finalists.