A young snooker player from Caerphilly has impressed in the 2019 European Championships in Eilat, Israel.
Dylan Emery, 17, finished runner-up in the Under 18s competition and reached the semi-finals of the Under 21s competition.
He also reached the last 16 of the senior competition.
Dylan told Caerphilly Observer: “It was a bit disappointing not to win but I got to the late stages, which is good.”
Dylan practices at Trecenydd Snooker Club in Caerphilly and has travelled the globe competing as he aims to achieve his dream of turning professional.
He won the Romanian Open in 2017 and reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Championships in St Petersburg, Russia.
Dylan, said: “I love all of it. The travelling is great and there’s a good group of lads from different countries.”
He has also competed in Germany, Albania and China and is hoping to qualify for the World Championships in Sheffield in April.
In Sheffield, Dylan will need to advance past three best-of-19 matches to qualify for the World Championships. He will also get to practice with professionals such as China’s Ding Junhui.
Dylan said: “The main player I look up to is Stephen Hendry because of his winning mentality, as well as Mark Selby, who’s the perfect professional.”
The 17-year-old, who spends around six or seven hours each day practising, said: “I want to go as far as possible. I want to become professional and maybe even world number one. I want to get as far as I can really.
“The boys at the snooker club are all really supportive and help me put the hours in.
“A few of my mates know what i’m doing but I don’t really tell many people, I just keep myself to myself.”
Dylan began playing the sport aged 13. He said: “My parents played pool and I used to watch a lot of snooker and wanted to go for a game.
“My dad took me to a junior club in Penarth and said I should start entering Welsh tournaments.”
Dylan’s mother, Michelle said: “I watch Dylan everywhere and I love watching him play. I’ve been slowly seeing the world with him.”
Mrs Emery added: “I didn’t expect to see him progress as quickly as he did.
“I’m more nervous than Dylan when I’m watching him play. I just want him to do so well.
“His dream is my dream, all he thinks of is turning pro.”