BOLTON snooker ace Craig Steadman showed just why he is regarded as the best amateur player in the country by taking a frame off Ronnie O'Sullivan during an exhibition match in Oldham on Tuesday.
It looked ominous for Steadman when the Rocket' racked up consecutive victories in the opening two frames of the contest, but Steadman remained composed and showed his class and potential to win the final frame.
The 24-year-old got his nose in front, and was never in danger of passing up the opportunity of beating one of the game's greats - putting on a potting exhibition of his own.
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"In the first two frames, he got in front of me and there was not much chance of getting into it," said Steadman, who was cheered on by about 100 fellow players from the local leagues. "I was sat down and I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that he was 50-odd ahead of me. That can be quite demoralising when you realise the calibre of player you are against.
"However, I was the one who went in front in the third frame, and I wasn't going to miss the chance of nicking a frame off Ronnie O'Sullivan.
"I had to go for a long red that I might have refused it in a match, but I potted it and then cleared up on the colours. It was nice to give everybody who came to support me something to cheer.
"It was a nice frame to win too because it got a bit nitty gritty and I had to dog it out against him."
It underlined the quality of a player who missed out on joining the main pro tour last year by a single frame. This season, however, Steadman is on course to qualify and he hopes to be playing O'Sullivan again on merit in the future.
"I have had some hard luck stories in the last few years, and always been one place off getting on the main tour," said Steadman.
"However, I am doing well this year and got to a final in Woking last weekend. I have got a final weekend coming up, then one more event and it's a Christmas break.
"I have got to keep on giving it everything, and see where it gets me."
O'Sullivan, however, did not hand out too much much advice to a potential rival of the future.
"He kept it all under lock and key," said Steadman. "Some people come to these events and are a bit loose and quirky, but his style was to turn up and play proper snooker and not say too much.
"He did say I cleared up well in the final frame."
Steadman received a blow to his ambitions earlier this year when his cue of 10 years broke. However, Steadman has had a new one made and is pleased with its capabilities.
"I was disappointed when the old one went, but I have practiced lots with this new one."
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