Snooker skills turn toddler into TikTok star

Two-year-old Jude was introduced to the sport by his father Luke

Two-year-old Jude is a little younger than your average snooker player, but his natural ability has already bagged him a sponsorship deal.

The Manchester toddler, who was introduced to the sport by his father Luke, has been impressing the world with his snooker skills on TikTok videos.

Jude now has a special stool to allow him to reach the table, and his snooker bag always contains the essentials - his cue, chalk, dummy and warm bottle.

But his dad, Luke, said it was sometimes challenging at venues where children are not allowed to use the tables, adding: "I'm thinking, this kid can really play."

Jude showed a love of sport from an early age and was "very sporty, energetic and always on the move".

But it was when he started playing on a mini snooker table that his father was stopped in his tracks.

"He had this natural ability. I didn't have to tell him," he said.

"Then he'd do a few shots and I'd post a few things on my socials and people were starting to pop up and go 'he's actually quite good now'."

It was around the time his grandfather died that one of Jude's posts went viral.

Luke said: "My dad wasn't very good [at snooker] but he kind of got me into it and so I've got to take my hat off to him.

"It was a bit weird because the last message I sent him is Jude's first ever video, which got to a million views. And a day later [my dad] passed away.

"It was a bit of a proud moment but it was also like, 'Right where does it go from here?'

"It just feels like maybe [my dad] is pushing the agenda a little bit somewhere."

The first video of Jude potting with ease has now had more than 10 million likes and has helped his Instagram handle, Judey147, attract 19,000 followers.

Luke said he was determined to always make the sport - or "big snooks" as Jude calls it - "as fun as possible" for his son.

"People say, 'Do you want to get him a coach?', but he's too young. Just let him enjoy it," he said.

"The biggest goal for me is to win the World Championships at snooker.

"I know it's a long way off, but I always say a story has to start somewhere and the evidence that's here is it's not far off."

Luke said he also hoped his son's enjoyment of the game would break down people's perception of the sport.

He said it was important places were more accommodating to younger players, adding there was a danger that age restrictions "were preventing the next generation coming through".

"Obviously in the industry that we're in, there are a lot of snooker clubs closing down," he said.

"Snooker, you would say is a bit of a dying game, and I feel it needs a bit of a spark.

"I think someone like Jude could take that on."