By Kirsty Topping
A TEENAGER has become the first Scottish amateur snooker player to record a 147 break in under eight minutes.
Michael Leslie, 18, cleared the table in seven minutes and six seconds in a feat which was recorded by a friend on a mobile phone.
Since posting the film on the video-sharing website YouTube the teenager, who lives in Midlothian, has received congratulatory messages from as far away as Afghanistan.
His record-breaking achievement is less than two minutes off the all-time record of five minutes and 20 seconds, set by Ronnie O’Sullivan at the 1997 World Championship.
Michael, who is nicknamed “Lightning” for his speed round the table, had been playing friend and fellow amateur Eden Sharv when the pair decided to film a game.
The resulting video shows Micheal expertly clearing the table as dance music plays in the back ground. It has been viewed more than 800 times since it was uploaded last month.
Michael said: “We just decided to take some videos because we have done it in the past and maybe put them up on Facebook – a couple of frames later that just happened.
“It was unbelievable to get that on video. I had been playing all day and it was probably the most relaxed break you will ever see.
“When I was going for it, I felt OK – there’s been times in the past when I have been going for a 147 and I have been feeling really nervous.
“Afterwards, I just felt on top of the world. Not many people have a 147 on video.
“There were a couple of shots during the break that were pretty lucky, but if you watch any 147 you could say the same.”
He added: “I have never got a 147 in a game against anybody – I have had it in solo practice, maybe about eight times.
“I didn’t think anything at the time but then people started saying to me they thought it might be a world record.
“I even had a guy from Afghanistan saying well done.”
Michael is currently captain of Scotland at The HIBSF Home International Snooker Series at Prestatyn in Wales.
He first played snooker at the age of six and used to stand on the same box that Stephen Hendry used to reach the table at the Locarno snooker hall in Edinburgh.
Clive Everton, editor of Snooker Scene magazine, said: “A Scottish amateur has never had a 147 break – that’s for certain. Mike’s a promising young player who, in time, I fully expect to make his mark on the professional game.”
Breaks of 147 are incredibly rare, with just 78 being recorded in professional competition.
Ronnie O’Sullivan holds the record for the highest number of maximum breaks at 11, with Scot Steven Hendry close behind on 10.
O’Sullivan also holds the top three fastest 147s, at five minutes 20 seconds, six minutes, 30 seconds and six minutes 51 seconds.
Thai player James Wattana holds the number four spot with a time of seven minutes and nine seconds.
