Leyton's teenage snooker sensation Peter Devlin has qualified from the first stage of the English Association of Snooker & Billiards Q School Satellite South held in Croydon.

The second stage takes place at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre in January and should he make it through, Devlin will be rewarded with a £1,000 entry into World Snooker’s Q School.

The four semi-finalists from each of three regional tournaments earn two-year professional cards.

Devlin said: "Winning the tournament shows that my game is getting better and better.

"I am fully aware that there is still a lot of work to do and a lot of room for improvement but I am totally committed to working hard and making these things happen."

Devlin, who also competes on the EASB Premier Junior Tour, turned on the style in the third of his four lives in the first stage and the 17-year-old described his break of 81 against fellow qualifier Nigel Crawford as a "particular highlight".

Devlin had earlier lost 3-0 to Crawford in another quarter of the draw.

"When we met in the again I was ready for him mentally and I realised how dangerous he was," explained Devlin.

"I was quite shocked because in the first match he totally outplayed me. He is a very experienced player and I learned a lot from the way he conjured up shots from nothing."