PASSIONATE potter Donnie Gola returns to the green baize this weekend aiming to pocket the Mildmay Club Championship for an eye-catching third year in a row.

The talented teenager (above) is the latest player to emerge from Gone2Pot children’s snooker club, following the likes of Westminster’s Lee Whaley and John Donovan from Camden.

Donnie, who lives in Islington, has built up a credible CV in his own right. He has worked his way up the rankings to earn a place on the Cuestars Gold Tour, an elite programme aimed at giving grassroots snooker players the chance to perfect their game by competing in a series of tournaments across the south of England.

He also recently won Gone2Pot’s internal club competition, and has conquered the tables at Mildmay Snooker Club in Newington Green for the past two years.

Setting his sights on a third Mildmay title this Saturday, Donnie, who boasts a highest break of 68, believes clubmate Donovan will be his biggest threat.

“I’m pretty confident that I’m going to win,” he said. “I’m not sure if John is definitely going to play in it this time, I think he will, but I beat him in the final last year.

“To be fair, at the Mildmay Club I don’t think there’s really anyone better than me, other than John, so I feel very confident.”

This would usually be the point where Donnie is tipped to be the next big star in the sport: a future Judd Trump or maybe the new Kyren Wilson.

But the 17-year-old takes a more realistic approach when asked what’s in store for him in the coming years, describing the idea of turning professional as a dream rather than an expectation.

He said: “My dad got me and my brothers playing pool at first. Then, gradually over the years, when I was about eight or nine, I started playing snooker. I would play every day.

“I still try and play every day, but now I’m in college I don’t get as much time as I used to.

“Ever since I started playing snooker, it’s the only game I ever really want to play. I still play other sports, but I just love snooker the most.”

Currently studying sport, fitness and active leisure at Capital City College in King’s Cross, Donnie added: “My plan is to get a job relevant to the course I’m doing now. I’m still going to play snooker as much as I can. I would love to turn pro and only focus on the game, but I’ve got other things in my life that I have to focus on as well.”

• For more information on Gone2Pot, and to find out about their Saturday kids’ sessions, call head coach John Woods on 07511 916 346.