Snooker fans rave as 14-year-old kid beats three-time champion on Shoot Out debut

14-year-old Vladislav Gradinari made history by defeating Ng On Yee in a televised match, making him the youngest player to ever win a ranking event.

Snooker fans were left in awe by the brilliance of 14-year-old wonderkid Vladislav Gradinari who made history on Wednesday.

Gradinari defeated three-time women’s world champion Ng On Yee to become the youngest player ever to win a televised match at a ranking event at the age of just 14. The adolescent signed up for the Snooker Shoot Out competition, which is being held at Leicester’s Morningside Arena and ends on Saturday. In a single frame or ten minutes, the short-form tournament’s results are determined.

The quick-fire event sees players have just 15 seconds to take a shot during the first half of the match, and then only 10 seconds for the second half. The player with the highest score at the 10-minute mark – or whoever wins the match before then – progresses.

Gradinari opened the scoring before experienced opponent On Yee was given an early chance to assume control of proceedings, but only came away with one point. The Moldovan youngster capitalised going 18-1 ahead with three minutes remaining before completing a comfortable win.

Fans were very impressed with the starlet’s performance and left some high praise on Twitter. “Well done young man!”, user @OtakuLogan2017 wrote, while @woodandresin said: “He’s definitely got a career just waiting.”

Gradinari received even higher praise from a colleague in three-time world champion Mark Williams, who won his opening round match at the event. “I watched him (Gradinari) in the practice room – he hits the ball lovely,” Williams told Eurosport.

“It (the event) just gives them (the younger players) the opportunity and experience they need to play under the cameras and the lights.” Gradinari began playing snooker at the tender age of seven having first witnessed the sport after being introduced to it by his family.

The youngster, who trains against professionals at his home club in Leeds, has big ambitions of reaching the top level and becoming a full-time player on the World Snooker Tour.

After recording his first televised match victory, Gradinari said: “It feels amazing. I played my best game, I had some shots which I should have potted and I did. I’m happy with that. At the table I felt a bit calm.”