JIMMY PROVES YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG

Starting in the second round, he faced Harlow professional Sanjay Meghani, 26, and came through with flying colours, winning his match 5-3 with the help of breaks of 87, 52, 40, 87 and 59.

This being the last season of backing by Benson & Hedges - as the tobacco industry is no longer permitted to sponsor any sports - Jimmy would have to win seven matches and the final to get a wild card to the main event at Wembley in February.

The odds of managing such an achievement lengthened when he was paired with World No.52 Stephen Maguire in the third round.

The 21-year-old Glaswegian is a former world under 21 champion and a practice partner of Stephen Hendry. It was Jimmy though who took the first frame before Maguire responded with a magnificent break of 125 and another of 40 to take a 2-1 lead.

The Bexhill teenager took the next frame to go into the interval all-square at 2-2. Unfortunately, Maguire upped another gear when the match resumed, hitting breaks of 59, 81 and 78 to complete a 5-2 win and a place in the fourth round.

Jimmy, who plays out of O'Sullivans and The Q-Ball Snooker Club - his sponsor along with Classic Racing bookmakers, Eastbourne, said "I didn't get a chance after the interval and all credit to Stephen, his potting was exceptional. It's my first season on the main tour and even though I'm holding my own it's tough getting wins at this level, one mistake and you are in trouble. Still I am only 16 and I have a few years of catching up to do yet, but I know I can beat these players but you have to do it when it matters."

At the qualifying school in Burton back in September, Jimmy got off to a flying start in his debut match, beating Craig Butler 5-2 in the 1st round of the LG Cup.

His next three events - The British Open, UK Championships and Regal Welsh - produced little joy as he lost 5-3 to Paul Davies, 5-3 against Rory McCloud and 5-1 at the hands of the avenging Butler respectively.

On his return for the 2nd round of the LG Cup Jimmy was defeated 5-1 by Jason Weston.

The youngster is still training full time and entering Pro-Ams at weekends when time permits, though having to give a 21 start makes life difficult considering the calibre of opposition.

World snooker is now run by WSE who stage eight ranking events - four of which take place from January and they include the Embassy World Championships.

Jimmy will have to have a good run in all these tournaments to get enough ranking points to keep his place on the main tour or he could be relegated to the challenge tour next season and have to re-qualify again.