World title shot, right on cue

Lilly Meldrum is a name to remember. She’s just 11, but is on her way to becoming a snooker world champion.

Lilly Meldrum, 11, has just come back from the world under 16 snooker titles where she came fourth. She is the Australian under 18 champion. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

It has only been three years since she picked up a cue, but Kenmore State School young gun Lilly Meldrum has already shown she could become a world champion.

Lilly recently returned from Russia where she came fourth in the world under 16 titles.

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She is also the reigning Australian under 18 champion, two years running, even though her opponents tower over her.

“It’s harder for me to reach. They’ve got a big advantage,’’ she said.

“When the white goes into the centre I have to use the rest or the jigger a lot.’’

After not even expecting to win a frame while in Russia, her fourth place has given her a massive confidence boost.

One day she even hoped to be as great as her idol, Ronnie O’Sullivan.

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At the moment few women qualify for the major world men’s tournaments.

But Mr Meldrum said the sport was growing in popularity with girls and young women, so many more should start coming through the ranks to challenge the men.

Her proud dad, Stuart, said it had been a meteoric rise for the Kenmore school captain after he took her to a coach.

“He ironed out a few basic problems and after that she improved quickly,’’ he said.

Most afternoons are taken up with practice on the family’s pool table on their back deck, then on Saturdays she has a five-hour session with her coach.

Lilly said she loved the challenge of the game, particularly the bigger tables, and enjoyed meeting new people through the sport.