Young snooker starlet Leighton Gauci, 17, (picture) is steadily making a name for himself on the circuit and is looking forward for a break to join the big guns.

Gauci, who earlier this year won the Northern Snooker Centre’s Under 17 competition and the Yorkshire Under 18 title, already has a string of credits to his name including being in the last 16 of the England Under-15 championship in 2000; being the youngest ever winner of the Wharfedale Under-21 snooker title at the age of 14; winning the Stoke Under-18 open; winning the Most Improved Player award at the WT Leicester in 2001 and being Wharfedale’s Young Player-of-the-Year in 2001.

His highest competitive break is 109 but the Menston-based youngster regularly breaks the century mark.

In the Northern Snooker Centre Under-17 competition he was a surprise winner being ranked no 22.

Leighton has had one practice session with Leeds professional Paul Hunter who has promised to give him more time at the table.

Born in Malta, Leighton was taken to England when his mother Judith, a member of the Yeadon Walbank family, returned to the area.

He admires Tony Drago as well as Paul Hunter.

Leighton is passionate about snooker and has forfeited trials with Bradford City to play in a snooker tournament.

A keen all round sportsman, he also enjoys rugby and golf and at one time also played cricket. These last few days, he was taking part in the National Tour Event No. 1 in which he was eliminated in round three by Tony Scott (4-1). Earlier, Leighton had beaten Colin Mitchell 4-3 in the first round and then went on to eliminate John Eames 4-3 in a second round match.