Ebbw Vale schoolboy makes history at Welsh Open snooker

The 15-year-old wildcard beat world number 78 John Astley 4-3 at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena to become the youngest player to make it through to the last-32 of a ranking event.

And it means more time off from studying for his GCSEs at the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community School.

“It is great; I am over the moon,” said Page, who also beat world number 123 Jason Weston in Monday’s first round match.

“I played better today. Roll on the next one now.”

The next one could well be former world number one Judd Trump – a player Page watched at the Welsh Open’s previous home of the Newport Centre when he was even younger.

“Playing Judd would be great, if Judd does get through it will probably be the TV table,” said the teenager.

“I remember when I was younger when it was in Newport, I went down to watch, Judd was about my age playing Ronnie [O’Sullivan] on the TV table so it is a similar circumstance, so it will be good.

“It will be great to play Judd, as long as I play well we’ll see what happens.

“I’ll play against whoever I’m drawn against. Judd will be a good game, so I’ll hope for the best and see what happens.

“As long as I play well, I can’t see why I can’t cause an upset.”

Page is more excited about missing school than his progress in Cardiff.

“It’s great to be off school, no English or History, I am glad of that,” he said.

“The school have been great, my mum and dad went along to school to sort some things out, they know I have a potential for a career in it and they said that is fine.

“I just done my first set of GCSEs before this. The next lot are in May, but that is when Q School is, so we’ll see what happens.

“It is great with the home support. A lot of people have come down today, it helps as you’re very nervous. It has been unreal.”

Page missed two pinks to win the first frame and eventually lost it 61-53 on the black.

He won the second with a 61 break and also claimed the third frame at the third attempt after two missed pinks.

He started frame four with a break of 41 before missing a black but after a scrappy interlude a lucky red saw him clinch a 3-1 lead with a 91-26 margin.

Astley won the fifth and then clinched the sixth with a break of 65 to take it to a decider.

And Page showed nerves of steel as he sealed victory with two breaks of 30.

“I did have a chance to win it 4-2, but I missed the black – I thought it was in, but it stayed out,” said Page.

“I played a nice break at the end there to get over the line.

“I thought I would get a chance [to win] with the positioning of the reds, and he left it on for me to win the match.

“I don’t really focus on beating world number 78. I just focus on the table and the balls and look to pot them all.

“In the first game I was nervous, but now I have settled down.

“Most of my family were down today, some friends, my sponsors, my manager. They have all been a great help.”

“I am feeling good, so I hope I can continue to play well.”

Newbridge’s Lee Walker, who has coached Page, also caused an upset as he fought back from 3-1 down to beat former world champion Neil Robertson 4-3.

Walker, a former Crucible quarter-finalist, won the first frame against Robertson but the Australian responded with back-to-back century breaks of 133 and 143.

Robertson extended his lead to 3-1 but a fluke on the final black allowed Walker to stay in the match at 3-2 and he fought back to win 4-3, clinching the final frame with a break of 130.

Dominic Dale is also through to the third round after beating fellow Welshman Jamie Jones 4-2 but Ryan Day bowed out, losing 4-1 to Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.