Ryan Thomerson’s epic quest to become a snooker professional via Melbourne, a blacksmiths and Neil Roberston’s house

Ryan Thomerson will be a new face on the World Snooker Tour this season after completing an amazing route to professional status that has wound through a costume factory, a blacksmith’s and Neil Robertson’s house.

The 27-year-old won the Asia Pacific Open Snooker Championship in March to book his spot on tour, beating the likes of Andy Lee and Glen Wilkinson in Sydney and turning in possibly the best performance of his life.

‘For me, I think I played the best I’ve played for a while, or every really,’ Thomerson told Metro.co.uk. ‘I got my head down, made three tons and a load of other breaks.

‘My match with Andy [in the quarter-finals] was an awesome match, after six years of trying to get on tour, I knew before I played Andy that was the match that’s going to be the winner and it proved to be that way.’

The Australian was able to compete in the APSBF event and avoid Q School after trying that gruelling event in the past and not enjoying it at all.

‘It’s an absolute nightmare that tournament,’ he said. ‘I’ve been three or four times and only ever had one decent result, really.

‘That tournament, you just don’t know. That’s why it’s such a mix of players who come through it, it’s such a lottery. It’s also very expensive, last year it cost me about £2,500 with entry fee, accommodation, just eating and everything, it’s a tough one. I was happy to not do it this year.’

This is just the latest twist in the Thomerson tale, though, which saw him embark on his snooker journey when his father Paul moved the family to Australia and introduced him to the table.

‘I was born in England and lived here till I was 11,’ said Ryan. ‘My dad played on tour when you could pay £1,000 to do it. He played in a club in London where guys like [Peter]