Pool and snooker protege Jack Smither’s reckons two titles and runners-up finishes means he is on course to be a world champion by the time he is 16-years-old.

The Tadworth star lost 6-4 to Guiseppe D’Imperio in the Region Seven (Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, London and Kent) Open championship at the weekend.

Smithers was runner-up at the Youth Pool National finals last month, where he lost 6-4 to Joe O’Connor in the final having beaten world junior champion 16-year-old Ben Clark in the earlier rounds.

The 14-year-old Overton Grange School student also has the Region Seven Inter-County Series title in his pocket having won 27 of the 32 frames he has played in the competition - ranking him sixth in the country this year.

He beat James Charlwood to lift the Kent Youth Open crown in June and was part of the England Team that downed Scotland 18-9 to lift the Anglo-Scottish Cup last month.

And Smithers believes his success has him on target to reach the very top.

“It was great to win the Kent Youth Open this year as I was runner up last year and it shows that I am still improving,” he said.

“To beat the world champion in the Nationals last month was great too as it shows that if I can beat him then there is nothing to stop me becoming the world champion by the time I am sixteen which is what I am aiming for.

“I have been having some extra coaching from my coach Lee Nelson and that has helped my game a lot.”

Smithers’ success has not been restricted to the world of eight-ball pool with the youngster making a big impression in the Epsom & District Men’s Snooker League.

He caused a stir last year when he made his debut in the competition, with protests over his age leading to league officials changing the rules to allow him to compete alongside men.

“I am doing well in the Epsom & District snooker league as well and a lot of teams are accepting me and welcoming me into their clubs to play which is nice,” he added.

“I had a really nice letter from Cheam Social club saying that they will bend the rules to let me play. I have now played 18 frames and won 15 and still hold the highest break of 53.”