Muir is Scots champ

Musselburgh's Ross Muir defeated Dylan Craig to win the tournament - the top competition for amateur players in the country - on Sunday, having already knocked out two former professionals to reach the final.

The 17-year-old will also be competing in the final of the Scottish under-19 and under-21 tournaments and if he wins both he will become only the second player to have completed the treble in the same year, after seven-time World Championship winner Hendry.

Muir told Courier Sport: "It would be a great achievement being one of only two people to achieve that and be alongside the best player of all time.

"It would be a great feeling to be on the list of winners which includes Stephen Hendry. It is very good company."

Muir produced some of his best snooker to reach the final, including a 4-1 defeat of former-pro Evan Munro and an emphatic 5-0 semi-final win over Craig MacGillivray, also an ex-pro and current Scottish No 1.

The latter result set up the final with fellow 17-year-old Dylan Craig (pictured right, with Muir) in what proved a titanic battle, despite Muir taking a 5-0 lead, with the match lasting seven hours and 15 minutes - the longest competitive match the ex-Musselburgh Grammar pupil has been involved in.

Craig battled back to make it 5-3 but Muir's quality shone through as he closed out a 7-4 win to take the title.

"[MacGillivray and Munro are] both very tough players," he said. "You need to be on your game to beat them. It was a great result against MacGillivray and it gave me a lot of confidence for the final.

"[The final] was a very concentration-demanding match. I was winning 5-0 but Dylan showed a lot of character and brought it back to 5-3. Dylan's a great player and a tough player to beat."

Before Muir turns his attention to the under-19 and under-21 finals he is getting set for a hectic period where he takes part in Q School at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield starting tomorrow (Saturday), with the possibility of turning professional if he performs well enough.

Muir then flies out to Poland almost immediately after Q School to compete in the European Billiards and Snooker Association's European Snooker Championship.

After his recent success, Muir is in confident shape heading into the tournament and feels he is at a standard where he can compete at a professional level.

To get a pro card, Muir has to reach the semi-final of one of the three events at Q School, with all 12 semi-finalists given a card.

"If I play my game I know I am capable of getting on the tour," he said.

"It is something you need to be ready for but the way my game has progressed I know I am ready to make the step up and compete at the professional level.

"Every player's dream is to compete on the pro tour; the three dreams are to get to the one-table set-up at the Crucible, be world champion and compete on the pro tour.

"Beating Craig [MacGillivray] was a massive boost. I've had a lot of good practice with my practice partner Marcus Campbell. I'm not that far away from being able to compete on the pro tour."

Muir, who lives on Edinburgh Road, believes his intensive training, both at the table and away from it, plus the support he is receiving, stand him in good stead to make the step up.

"I'm feeling really good for it," he said. "My game in good shape; all the fitness is paying off and it served me well in the final. I have been practising very hard on the table and on my fitness.

"I'm feeling great mentally and physically. It's a sport which, surprisingly enough, is demanding. You do need to be mentally and physically fit to be at your best in all matches you play. It is one of the toughest sports to play.

"I try and do a half marathon at least once a week. I normally go along Portobello, up Arthur's Seat and back.

"I have received a lot of congratulatory messages since my win. It's a great feeling to know I have many people who support me and it gives me a boost."