ACCRINGTON'S snooker star Chris Norbury will hope to be right on cue when he comes up against James Wattana in round one of the Preston Grand Prix tomorrow (Sat).
And the 18-year-old will be doing it under the banner of Accrington-based North Lancs Training Group who have sponsored the teenager £3,000 after a feature on Chris in the Observer.
Wattana is an ex-World number three while Chris, who got into the top 64 rankings for the first time this year, is making his debut in the last 64 players in the tournament.
His match is at noon tomorrow and the BBC are televising the event which is the first world ranking tournament of the season.
Ex-Moorhead pupil Chris got through to the finals by defeating Simon Bedford in qualifying at Prestatyn 5-2 and will face Watanna over nine frames.
Wattana, who lives in Bangkok, is one of just eight players in snooker history to earn more than £1m at the match table.
He also has three 147s in his 16 year pro history and reached the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament last year before losing to Paul Hunter.
Chris, who turned pro in 2003, has a highest break of 104 in a Challenge Tour in 2004/5.
NLTG e2e Manager Chris Lovell is delighted they are helping out the teenage star.
"Chris was first brought to our attention a few years ago when he took part in the East Lancs Junior Snooker Competition," said Chris Lovell, whose sponsorship includes Chris wearing the NLTG logo on a new dinner suit and polo shirts he will don during the tournament.
"Then we saw the feature on him in the Observer and read that he was on the look-out for sponsorship and we are only too glad to sponsor him for 12 months.
"He is home grown and we have been in the business of supporting young people over 35 years and it is fantastic what Chris has done."
World Number one Ronnie O'Sullivan, whose match will follow Chris, won the Grand Prix last year beating Preston's Ian McCulloch in the final.
McCulloch trains with Chris at Potters Snooker Club in Great Harwood, under the watchful eye of coach Mick Caddy.
Also in the running for the title are Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Mark Williams as well as traditional favourites Jimmy White, Steve Davis and John Parrott.
McCulloch faces Robin Hull in the first round.
