A 14-year-old snooker prodigy touted as the “next Ronnie O’Sullivan” has blown away the opposition to seize a win for England at a national tournament.

William Hurley, 14, of Rayleigh, travelled to Leeds for a Home Internationals Tournament last week, playing in a team of four representing England against the best junior players from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The three-day trip to Leeds, funded by his sponsors, Rayleigh’s Pink Toothbrush, saw him awarded player of the tournament for under-16s after winning 12 of the 13 frames he played over the tournament.

According to dad, Dan Hurley, William “is the only junior in Essex currently competing at this elite level and has huge dreams of reaching the top of the professional game.”

He said: “It is fantastic, we knew he was strong in his group, and it is good to go up against kids from that far away and realise as a group of four they were all really good and at the top of their standard.

“The Rayleigh Lanes Snooker Club is supporting us, as is the Pink Toothbrush, who funded our trip to Bosnia.

“They said they wanted us to keep at the international stuff and they paid for the trip to Leeds.

“We have approached other businesses about next season and the Raytel Group, a manufacturing company, gave a donation.”

He added that for the future, William will continue competing against some of the best youngsters in the UK, but could soon step up to compete in a world amateur tournament.

Dan said: “We will do a junior tour, a series of five events that get him to Europe, Leeds and maybe even a world amateur tournament.

“It would be a great experience for him and it has been great. We are proud.”

William who receives ongoing support and practice time from Rayleigh Lanes Snooker Club, with coaching from snooker enthusiast Peter Ward, worked extremely hard leading up to this recent victory.

He said: “All the hard work on the practice table has paid off. Thank you so much for everyone’s support.”