In March 2019, Caerphilly Observer sat down with a 17-year-old Dylan Emery, who spoke about his dream of becoming a professional snooker player.

On October 7, 2021, that dream became a reality.

Emery, now 20, fulfilled his ambition by winning the EBSA U21 Championships in Portugal, where he won nine games out of nine, including a 5-2 win over Belgium’s Julien Leclercq in the final.

He also had the highest break in the 78-player competition, with 143.

Emery, from Caerphilly, will now compete alongside the biggest names in the sport at professional events around the globe, with the season set to get underway in July 2022.

“It feels strange. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet”, Emery told Caerphilly Observer.

“I was around 13 or 14 when I first started playing tournaments and enjoying it. I realised it was what I wanted to do.”

He admitted he had “a little cry” after his tournament win in Portugal and said: “It was a huge relief, but the job doesn’t end here. There’s a lot of hard work again.”

Emery is now ranked inside the top 128 players in the world, with the rankings determined by how much prize money a player wins.

“It doesn’t bother me who I play against, but it would be nice to come up against the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Williams.”

Earlier this year, Emery competed alongside professionals at the Welsh Open, where he reached the second round. He also impressed at the inaugural World Snooker Tour Pro Series, winning three of his seven games.

However, Emery’s dream was nearly derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. With snooker clubs closing their doors due to lockdown restrictions, Emery was left unable to practice – until the Aber and Senghenydd Ex-Servicemens Club stepped in.

The club, where Emery’s late grandfather Peter Laver used to play, offered him his own private room, where he was able to practice safely and regularly throughout the pandemic.

This was within the rules at the time, as it was classed as elite sport.

“The club has been amazing. April Pearce and the committee members have all been amazing. They’ve made me feel welcome from day one,” Emery said.

“I want to thank the club for having me here and for being so good to me. I couldn’t ask for a better place to practice.”

Emery also thanked his family for their support, particularly his mother, Michelle.

Emery said: “I couldn’t have done it without her and all the support she’s given me. She’s been with me through thick and thin.”

Michelle has supported him every step of the way, travelling with him during competitions both overseas and closer to home.

Michelle said she “cried tears of joy” seeing her son achieve his dream in Portugal.