Liam Harper's mates spend much of their spare time climbing trees, like many seven-year-olds. But the Rye schoolboy doesn't.

He has branched out into snooker, competes with grown-ups and helped his team lift their green baize equivalent of the FA Cup.

Liam, who attends Freda Garden school, was part of the Rye Riverside team that beat Rye Club 3-1 in the Rye League Second Division B final for the Jim Berritt Salver.

He has also beaten a player seven years his senior, who went on to qualify for this year's English Under-15s Championship finals.

To top it all he has played exhibitions against professionals Jimmy White and Brian Morgan Liam said: "Jimmy told me he wanted to play a few more frames with me. He was very nice."

The whizz-kid is developing fast. Liam stands 4ft tall in his socks but has no need to bend because only his head and shoulders appear above the table.

He uses a long rest and lost only four matches out of 18 while helping Riverside to knockout success and third place in the League.

While his friends are glued to the TV or computer game controllers, Liam is honing his game.

Every morning before school he puts in an hour on the Riverside tables and after lessons he is practising again for up to two hours.

He looks the part in his waistcoat and dicky bow and also plays the part.

Already he has secured a highest break of 54, a total many adults would like to achieve.

He said: "I love snooker and I like dressing up in what snooker players have to wear, I'm a bit of a show-off like that.

"A lot of my mates like football, computers and climbing trees, but my main interest is snooker."

Liam first got the bug just over two years ago at a golf club that had a pool table in the clubhouse.

He said: "I went there with my dad and thought I'd have a go. I potted all the balls. They asked me to do it again and I potted them all again.

"Then I saw Ronnie O'Sullivan on TV in Big Break and I really liked him. He plays so fast and he wins and that's what I like to do."

Liam admitted he gets edgy before matches. He said: "I do get a bit nervous but when I get into the middle of the game and knock a few balls down my confidence goes up."

His vanquished opponents in the Rye League sometimes looked a little sheepish after losing to snooker's top tot.

He said: "I think that is because I am only seven. They think they are going to beat me and afterwards I think they get embarrassed, but they are very nice."

The smoke-filled snooker halls have mostly been replaced with new plush facilities.

But it still might seem an odd environment for a kid so young, although he has had little problem getting permission to play.

His dad Ian said: "Last season, because the League had never had anyone so young, people thought that he wouldn't be able to play.

"But there wasn't anything in the rules and as soon as he played his first game and won he started to get a little respect.

"He can't play in a couple of clubs because of his age but the others have bars separated from where they play snooker so he can play.

"Of course, he can't celebrate victories in the bar with his team-mates, we just have to sit in another area so he can sip his orange juice."

Proud Dad chaperones his son to every match. He said: "No one has said he shouldn't be allowed to play. People now recognise him around town. He's quite a character. He's a confident boy but not cocky. He has a good manner at the table.

"Liam seems to be dedicated and, despite his size, he can only spot and re-spot the balls that are close to the baulkline. Liam seems to deal with it all right and even uses a full-size cue.

"It is amazing. I don't no where he gets it from. I don't play snooker.

"He is improving with practise. You could see that in the English under-15s event when he was trying to qualify. It was a round robin and he beat Gavin Taylor, who was 14, and Gavin eventually went through."

Liam has already attracted sponsorship. Rye Riverside manager Dave Furness said: "We give him reduced rates on our tables and he comes here before school. Everyone receives him very well. He is serious about snooker and has a lot of ability."

Rye League secretary Derek Stonham has been impressed with his competition's' youngest player.

He said: "Liam will be far too good for our standard in a few years. He has a big, big potential and is dedicated. We have no rules saying he can't play and he more than hold his own."

Meanwhile, Liam is preparing for a new League season by hanging on to a dream.

He said: "I want to be a professional and I think I can be. My big ambition is to be a world champion like my favourite player Ronnie O'Sullivan."