A LOCAL youngster who is tipped to become one of snooker’s biggest stars almost put down his cue for good.

Thirteen-year-old Peter Devlin’s love for the game was sorely tested by personal tragedy and the plummet in form which came with it.

The Leyton lad almost walked away from the game after his beloved grandmother died last year, and he ‘forgot what a snooker table looked like’.

But now with the help of coach Josh Raja, he is back and wants the hard knocks of the past year to mould him into a future champion.

“I was not doing well in tournaments because I was playing patchy snooker,” the boy dubbed the ‘Pocket Rocket’ explained to the Guardian. “There were personal problems.”

He added: “Because of them, I started playing worse, as my mind was not on it. It got worse and worse.”

But coach Josh stepped in and brought Peter back from the brink.

“I know he’s got talent, but he had so many problems that he could not concentrate,” he explained.

“Peter’s easily going to be more successful than Ronnie (O’Sullivan).”

A bold statement, even by someone who does have an interest in promoting his player.

But Josh was confident enough to tell the three-time world champion Chigwell resident the same thing, in a text message.

The reply was no shock.

Josh said: “He (O’Sullivan) replied ‘you’re mad’.

“But I can tell Pete has what it takes. He’s got maturity beyond his years.

“I think he’s good enough to do it. If we keep going as we are, I don’t see much going wrong. If personal events haven’t thrown him off course, nothing will.”

Recently, things on the table have taken a turn for the better.

Peter triumphed in a nail-biting four-frame duel at the U16 English Amateurs in Romford.

It was against another hotly-tipped youngster, who rules the roost at Upton Park snooker club.

That win seems to have been a seminal moment for Peter, the sort which competitors summon when they pinpoint what made them reach for the summit of their sport.

“I played the best snooker I ever have, and overcame all the odds to beat him 3-1,” gushed Peter. “He’s one of the most amazing players I’ve seen, but everything I’ve got came together. He usually beats me after giving me a points start. Safe to say it was my best moment of 2009.”

Peter’s target for this year is to develop his safety game and nous.

Josh added: “If he picks up wins like that one (at Romford) and gains confidence, he can get somewhere in the nationals. Pete loves the game. He’s even made himself ill by practising so much.”

Peter admitted: “I don’t like going to school much. I would never swap school for snooker. I know what I can do and I’m confident for the future. I’m hoping to get into the national final this year.”