A snooker prodigy is being tipped to be the next Ronnie O'Sullivan after becoming the youngest player to ever each the junior world championships - aged NINE.

Tommy 'The Tornado' Fallon will compete against players, some of them professional and aged up to 19, when he jets off to Bulgaria this weekend.

He has already played exhibition games against the likes of Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Ali Carter and Mark Allen since picking up the cue aged six.

And he's now being tipped for future stardom as he continues to blaze a trail on the green baize taking on opponents twice his age.

Dad James Fallon, 48, said snooker helps calms Tommy's ADHD and autism and he has been left blown away by his amazing potting abilities.

Ali Carter has also been impressed, saying Tommy "had a gift", with the youngster even managing to snooker Kyren Wilson - which took the former world champ seven attempts to escape from. "

Tommy will compete at the World Snooker Federation Junior Championships this weekend- becoming the youngest person ever to do so.

The pint-sized snooker ace said: "I'm quite scared for the world championships as I'm the youngest there - but I'm looking forward to it. "

"It doesn't bother me once I get my waistcoat on. I just get on with my game."

"When people are watching me I'm more confident about my game. "

"Ronnie is my favourite player and I'd love to be like him. I reckon I could probably beat him. "

"I want to be a snooker player when I grow up. I want to be world champion."

James, of Stourbridge, West Mids., said: "He's like Clark Kent and Superman - when he's in his suit with cue in hand, he's a different person."

"Tommy has just taken to snooker and is transformed when he gets his waistcoat on and gets around the table."

"He has met a lot of famous players and took on Kyren Wilson who he got in a snooker that was almost impossible to get out of. "

"All the players who have seen him play have been very complimentary and encouraging and have seen he has a real talent."

"It has really helped him in terms of giving him focus and concentration which he hasn't always shown in everyday life due to the autism and ADHD."

"But he just comes alive on the snooker table."

The youngster has also built a cult following both in the snooker world and on social media with thousands of followers on Tiktok.

James said: "Everyone seems to love him. "

"You go to these exhibitions where people win a ticket to play a professional and they just give it to Tommy as everyone wants to watch him play."

"He's played Mark Williams, Ali Carter, Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen and he's due to play Mark Bingham soon."

"Most young players don't get to experience that - especially at the age of nine."

"When we went to Sheffield to watch the world championships at The Crucible, he had people asking him to sign their stuff."

"It was madness watching people ask him for his autograph."

"What he does is niche, but he is a young boy who works incredibly hard, overcomes challenges daily, and dreams of making his mark on the world stage."

James raised nearly £1,000 via a GoFundMe page so Tommy can take part in the event in Bulgaria.

He added: "The tournament in Bulgaria will be tough, he will be playing older kids but it will be great experience for him."

"He's the youngest player they have ever had there so it is a great achievement."

"Everybody has been fantastic in the backing and support they have shown him, not least the school so we thank them all."

Staff

atThe Ridge Primary School,

which Tommy attends, have also helped the youngster by bringing in a snooker table so he can practice.

PE teacher Ryan Lamb said: "We always support pupils here in whatever sports they pursue or excel in and when Tommy's dad sent a video in of his exhibitions and games we could see how good he was, so we got a table in so he and his fellow pupils could play in break times and after school."

"We are backing him all the way to Bulgaria and we are sure he will do very well because he has shown such talent for snooker at such a young age."

The fundraiser is still open and anyone wishing to donate can do so at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-tornado-to-the-wsf-junior-championships-bulgaria?attribution_id=sl%3Ad8052945-3b6d-42a5-8368-