ROSS Muir was forced to abandon a promising football career at the age of 10 when he was being watched by Celtic.
Now the 17-year-old cannot stop smiling after becoming one of the youngest players in the world to join this season's professional snooker tour, competing with fellow Scots John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and Marcus Campbell.
Muir, from Musselburgh, came through the Q School in Sheffield, and admits he's still pinching himself. "It really is a dream come true because this is something I've always wanted to do since taking up the game. I used to play in goal for Salvesen Boys Club in Edinburgh. I was scouted by Celtic when I was 10 but I had a recurring wrist injury which meant I had to give up my football. While it was a big disappointment at the time, I started playing snooker and just fell in love with the game.
"Now I'm on the professional tour, so things could not have worked out better. This is a huge opportunity for me and I'm going to work my socks off. I have always said that practice does not make perfect but it does give you a better chance of being successful and that's what I am aiming to do.
"Stephen Hendry was always my favourite player, he's the greatest of all time. Apart from his brilliant ability, his work ethic was second to none. It's the same when I look at other Scottish sportsmen who have risen to the top of their respective sports such as Andy Murray and Sir Chris Hoy.
"You could not ask for better role models because they put absolutely everything into their sport. I have not set any targets. I just want to do as well as I can and take it from there."
Another Scot looking forward to life as a pro after coming through the final round of qualifying in Sheffield is Fraser Patrick from Glasgow. It was his last chance to join the main tour next season and he held his nerve admirably to roll in a match-winning break of 50 to win a final-frame decider with England's Ashley Carty.
Earlier in the day, Patrick edged fellow-Scot Rhys Clark 4-3 in the previous round.
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