A RISING snooker star from Saltcoats is set to make her professional debut later this year.

It comes after Sophie Nix was confirmed as one of eight World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) amateur player nominations who will be competing in the 2024 Snooker Shoot Out.

The 16-year-old Ardrossan Academy pupil earned her spot at the event as the current number one ranked World Women’s Snooker Under-21.

The tournament will be held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from December 4-7, and will present Sophie with the opportunity to face off against some of the best players in the world.

A total of 128 players will line-up in the event, with the tournament drawn in a straight knockout style with no seeding.

In practice, it means that Sophie could be drawn to play anybody in the draw which will include some of the top 16 ranked men's players in the world.

And the match format provides an excellent opportunity for drama - with outcomes hard to predict.

The tournament is played using a variation of the traditional snooker rules. All matches are played over a single frame, each of which lasts up to 10 minutes.

(Image: World Women's Snooker)

There is also further time pressure, with a shot clock in play for each player.

During the first five minutes of the match, players are allowed 15 seconds per shot - in the final five minutes this is reduced to just ten seconds.

Making her tournament appearance even more exciting, the Shoot Out will be shown live on TV via Eurosport.

It is yet another landmark in the impressive career of the Saltcoats teen - who worked as a waitress in the Nonsuch bar over the summer.

She won her first under 21 Women's World Snooker Tour title at the end of last year, and has since climbed to the top of the rankings for the age group.

Sophie is also the 36th ranked women's player in the world - having previously reached a career-high placing of 24th.