PROMISING Witney player Lewis Calcutt takes his first tentative steps towards a professional career this weekend.

The 20-year-old competes in the European Players Tour Championships at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucestershire.

And first up on Calcutt’s hit-list is world No 22 Martin Gould, who only narrowly lost to eventual champion Neil Robertson in the second round of this year’s world championships at the Crucible.

Calcutt, who is sponsored by and works for Abbey Properties estate agents, says he hopes his first experience of a big competition will kick-start his ambition to turn pro.

Many of the world’s top players will be in action during the four-day championship, including former world champions Steve Davis, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Graeme Dott, Stephen Hendry and Peter Ebdon.

Should Calcutt, who received a first-round bye, beat Gould in today’s best-of-seven second round match – he will face either Tom Ford or Jamie Rhys-Clarke in the third round, and he is in the same half of the draw as Stephen Maguire, Marco Fu and O’Sullivan.

Calcutt said: “This is the fourth event in the tour, but the first one I have entered.

“I’m really in it for the experience of playing against some of the top pros, but I know that on my day I can beat any of these players.”

Such is Calcutt’s talent, he was invited in April to the Sheffield Academy, where he played a series of matches on the practice tables at the Crucible.

He said: “I went to the academy to see if I could cope with playing the best players, and I did OK.

“I beat Stephen Lee 3-1, drew 1-1 with Ding Jung Hui and beat Belgian No 1 Kevin Van Hove 5-0.

“I was told by coach Alan Trigg from the academy, that I have a dream cue action.

“He said I didn’t need much more coaching, just experience of playing in big competitions, which is why I’ve entered this.”

Calcutt likens himself to world champion Robertson.

He said: “I’m a quick player and I think my potting ability is good.

“I am regularly getting 100-plus breaks in practice and competition.

“I’m naturally aggressive on the table, and naturally fast. I just need to slow down in my mind a bit.”

The academy has now moved to Gloucester, and Calcutt regularly practises at the purpose-built ven-ue.

He added: “Jimmy White’s manager is Paul Mount, who opened the academy in Gloucester.

“He wanted me to join the academy and would look to work with me in the future.”

Speaking of his hopes for this weekend’s tournament, Calcutt said: “I’m not expecting to win it, but I know on my day I would be capable of doing so.

“I just want to see how this competition goes and how I do against some top professionals.”

Calcutt started playing snooker at the age of nine, and scored his first century (123) when he was 11.

In 2004-5 as a 14-year-old, Calcutt won the player-of-the-year award in the Oxford & District League.

He has also won the league’s Walt Bradbury Cup – one of the youngest to do so – the Simonds Pairs with Justin Buckingham, and the Simonds Cup. He also helped Witney to the Premier title in the autmn of 2007-8, the last season he played in the league.

And his aims for 2011?

Quite simply, he is aiming to turn professional.

“I’m hoping to get onto the professional tour and start earning ranking points and some money,” he said.

Supporters can see how Calcutt fares live online this weekend at www.southwestsnookeracademy. com/livefeeds.html