BILLY Castle returned to the snooker tables on which he learnt his craft as a junior to take a step closer to his dream of becoming a professional.

The 24-year-old from Marchwood moved up to second place in the Cuestars South of England Championship Tour rankings after winning the second leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

A Q School place and the chance of earning a two-year tour card is on offer to the rankings winner at the end of the eight-leg campaign.

Castle pocketed £200 prize money after accounting for event-one winner Seb Worrall (Swindon) 3-0 in the final that lasted just 38 minutes.

“I believe I can be a professional,” insisted Southampton’s former Town Champion. “If I didn’t believe, I wouldn’t go to Q School. I’ve got the attacking game, not to his heights but very similar to how Judd (Trump) plays.

“I’ve got a great wife who helps me out and supports me. I’d love to do it. Ever since I started playing snooker, my ambition has been to become a pro.”

A massive entry of 39 top amateurs from across the south recorded 38 breaks of more than 50 during the Ahmad Tea-sponsored event.

Castle’s first visit of the day yielded a run of 112 against Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) but that was swiftly followed by his Churchills teammate Mike Finn (Eastleigh) firing in a 128 against Emin Thorose (High Wycombe).

“I knew if I was in that sort of form I’d be there or thereabouts,” said Castle, who dropped only one of his 20 frames.

He made 96 and 76 in a 3-1 last-eight victory over two-time rankings champion Matt Ford (Bracknell) and 81 and 63 in a 3-0 semi-final success over Mike Talmondt (Portsmouth).

Elsewhere, Mickey Joyce, a 13-year-old from Basingstoke, went out 2-0 to Talmondt in the last-16.

And ten-year-old home player Oliver Sykes, who increased his high break to 61 in the Under-13 League the previous day, earned rave reviews after missing a doubled pink to beat ex-professional Talmondt before losing 2-1 on the final black in the group stages.

“He deserved to win,” admitted Talmondt.

Castle added: “There’s a lot of good young players coming through like Connor (Benzey), Mickey (Joyce) and I was very impressed with Oliver Sykes.”

Castle is a three-time winner of the Saturday morning Under-18 League at Chandler’s Ford SC. He now lives in Reading with wife Betsie and children Kacie-Mai, who was born in August, and 19-month-old Billy-James.

Talking about his dream of turning professional, he said: “It’s just to make a better life for them. It’s something I love doing and it’s a lot easier than landscape gardening!”

KNOCKOUT RESULTS Last-16: Cowdroy 2 A Rice 0, Worrall 2 Blake 0, Ahmed 2 Clark 0, Chislett 2 Crosswell 0, Castle 2 Cullen 0, Ford 2 Charlton 0, Finn 2 C Lloyd 0, Talmondt 2 Joyce 0.

Quarter-finals: Worrall 3 Cowdroy 0, Ahmed 3 Chislett 2, Castle 3 Ford 1, Talmondt 3 Finn 1.

Semi-finals (£45): Worrall 3 Ahmed 0, Castle 3 Talmondt 0.

Final (£200/£100): Castle 3 Worrall 0.