While many teenagers are concocting creative excuses for late homework, two emerging snooker talents are dedicating their spare time to mastering the intricacies of angles, spins, and century breaks.

Among these young stars are Ellise Scott and Michal Szubarczyk, both 14, who are rapidly climbing the snooker ladder and receiving accolades from some of the sport’s most celebrated figures.

Ellise Scott, hailing from Eastleigh, Hampshire, embarked on her snooker journey in 2022 at the tender age of 11. She has since claimed three Under-21 titles, propelling her to the top ranks as the leading junior player earlier this year.

Her impressive performance continues to turn heads. During her first international tournament in Bruges, Scott nearly triumphed over Rebecca Kenna, pushing the match to a deciding frame before narrowly losing 3-2.

Looking ahead, Scott is preparing to compete against former World No. 3 and two-time Women’s World Snooker champion Bai Yulu at the upcoming Shoot Out in Blackpool. A win would not only be a remarkable feat but also position her as one of the youngest victors in a World Snooker Tour match.

Ellise Scott won three Under-21 titles on her way to becoming the best-rated junior player

Michal Szubarczyk has made headlines after winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship

The 14-year-old was nominated to participate in the quirky event, held between December 10 and December 13, by the governing body World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

At the tournament, which features unique rules such as ten-minute matches and a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and ten seconds for the last five, Scott will be alongside famous faces such as world champion Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy and defending title holder Tom Ford.

While the test of taking down Yulu proves fierce, Scott has proven her talents on many occasions already having also beat Tessa Davidson on her way to the EPSB English Women’s Championship, in which she was again defeated by Kenna.

‘I hope to encourage other little girls to join and play,’ Scott said in a 2024 WPBSA interview.

The teenager has been surrounded by snooker in her family, with her brother O’Shay aiming to reach the big time. Scott’s uncle Daniele Zagaroli also used to play and competed against her favourite men’s player Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 1990s. 

O’Sullivan, however, has been spending his recent time with the equally impressive wonderkid Szubarczyk, who is making undeniable waves in the game and will also visit Blackpool for the Shoot Out next month – facing Jamie Jones.

The Polish 14-year-old was across much of the snooker headlines this week, after winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship with an impressive victory over Ali Alobaidli – who is 18 years his senior.

Scott is gearing up to face two-time WWS champion Bai Yulu at the Shoot Out next month

Szubarczyk beat Ali Alobaidli – who is 18 years his senior – to claim the amateur title in Qatar

The Polish 14-year-old has been spending time practicing with legend Ronnie O’Sullivan

The amateur championship is famed for its winners going on to have stellar careers in the professional game, with World Snooker Championship winners Ken Doherty and Stuart Bingham both claiming the title at one stage.

Before Szubarczyk secured the big win in Qatar, O’Sullivan shared a short video of him practicing with the youngster who he described as a ‘great prospect’ on social media.

The snooker legend wrote: ‘Sharing the knowledge in Nanjing. Great to spend time with the youngest professional on tour, Michał Szubarczyk. A great prospect for the future.’

Szubarczyk already sits just outside the top 100 in the men’s rankings and, like Scott, has claimed tournament wins over players far older than him. Earlier this year, he won the European championships at Under-16 and Under-18 levels.

He also almost broke O’Sullivan’s 33-year record of becoming the youngest-ever player to qualify for the World Championship at the Crucible after being narrowly defeated by Dean Young in April.

His reward for an incredible rise? A two-year card on the World Snooker Tour and bout against six-time former World Championship finalist Jimmy White – who is also a former IBSF World Snooker Championship – later this month.

Szubarczyk will be eager to impress against the veteran, 49 years his elder, in the UK Championship qualifiers, and has already been on the receiving end of fawning praise from one of the tournament’s former winners.

Speaking to Metro earlier this year, Mark Williams said Szubarczyk was ‘one of the best 14-year-olds I’ve ever seen in my life’ and that he was ‘up there with O’Sullivan’.