Sydney Wilson’s snooker dreams have come true and he is looking forward to taking his first steps among the game’s elite.

The 25-year-old Southend-born player from Rivenhall has earned his World Snooker Tour card for the next two seasons after winning his way through the Tour’s Qualifying School Wilson, who practices at the Stepfield Snooker Club in Witham and has played for them in the Braintree Snooker League, had a 4-1 win over China’s Chen Zhe in the final round of Q School in Burton to earn his place on the world tournament circuit alongside the game’s biggest names.

And it is a challenge he has been dreaming of for a long time.

“I’ve been playing snooker since I was three and this is all I’ve ever wanted,” he said.

“When I got through the final match, people were saying that I must have been buzzing and so excited, but it was really just a feeling of great relief to have finally got where I want to be.

“It’s such a big relief to have done it."

See the paper this week for the full version of this story.