Michael Leslie didn't have much time to celebrate yesterday.

The 19-year-old from Bonnyrigg defeated England's Shane Castle 6-2 to become European Under-21 champion in Sofia, but the chalk-dust had barely settled on his triumph before he was back in action, for Scotland in the European Team Championship in the Bulgarian capital. Such is life for those on the potters' wheel these days.

This was the biggest achievement of Leslie's young career, and was secured against a player expected to become a force in the pro ranks in the near future.

"Shane is being tipped to be the next big thing, but I concentrated on my own game, and I think I handled the final pretty well," said Leslie, who raced into a 4-0 lead, before being pegged back in the next couple of frames.

"I responded with a break of 100, and followed that up with one of 91, and that was it. It wasn't simply about winning the title – though the list of past champions tells you how important an event this is – but also the fact that I have now gained my pro card for the next two years and that is what I have been aiming for since I took up the sport."

Leslie's emergence has happened in the shadow of his friend and compatriot, Anthony McGill, and one suspects the duo could develop a similar healthy rivalry to that which has existed between John Higgins and Stephen Maguire.

What bonds them is their shared realisation that snooker is developing at an incredible speed as Barry Hearn takes the sport to new markets, which is why the European elite were battling away in Bulgaria rather than Blackpool.

"I was so close [to winning] last year's event. I have benefited from the progress I have made in the last 12 months, yet qualifying for the professional ranks is only the start and I know I will have to practice harder and harder in the months ahead," said Leslie, who will participate in his first ranking event qualifier in June.

"There are different ways you can get on to the pro circuit, and the competition for places is fierce, but it boosts your confidence if you can do something like winning a European tournament.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, but I have been assisted by a lot of different people. My parents have been vital to me reaching this far; in the last six months, I have found a new sponsor, Billy Stirling, in Cumbernauld and he paid for my flights and accommodation out here.

"That was a big help, and it eased some of the pressure on my mum and dad, so I want to thank him and [his business partner] Allan Maxwell. I am now a full-time player and you have to go down that route if you want to test yourself at the highest level. That's my ambition."

With Stephen Hendry reaching the end of the line and Higgins closer to 40 than 30, Leslie represents a new generation. He has shown he has an old head on young shoulders and is determined not to waste his opportunity.