EAST Lothian can add a professional snooker player to its glittering array of sports stars after Musselburgh's Ross Muir qualified for snooker's professional tour.

Muir, 17, earned his pro card through competing at Q School last week at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, winning five successive games to begin a whirlwind period for the former Musselburgh Grammar pupil.

Planned appearances in the final of the Scottish under-19 and under-21 tournaments, as well as a tournament in Poland, have been pushed to the side due to Muir turning professional.

Instead, he faces a baptism of fire on Monday as he plays two-time world champion Mark Williams in Gloucester in his first professional event - the qualifying for the Wuxi Classic in China.

Muir told Courier Sport: "I like how I've not got a long break between qualifying and my first pro tournament. I'm looking forward to it.

"Obviously he is one of the best players in the world. It is a great start for me to see how my game is against a great like Mark.

"To be perfectly honest I can't describe how I feel. It will not sink in until I show up next week and I'm part of the tournament "It is incredible; to be classed as a professional sportsman is a great feeling." Two days after his qualifying match with Williams, Muir is back in action in another qualifier for the Australian Open against good friend James Cahill, nephew of Stephen Hendry, who he will also be sharing a room with in Gloucester.

Q School saw three events run simultaneously, players having to win through five qualifying ties to be one of four left standing in their event - with the 12 players achieveing that feat earning their pro card.

Muir won his first-round match 4-0 before following it up with 4-2, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-0 successes.

The latter result came against David Morris, a former professional player who was in the top 50 in the world only recently.

"It is a dream come true to play on a tour against my idols," said Muir. "When I shook [Morris'] hand and knew I was on the pro tour I couldn't help but smile. My dream had been achieved.

"It's something I have always aspired to do. I've always wanted to be part of it; travelling the world, playing against great players, the TV coverage. It doesn't get any better." Muir, whose cousins are professional football players Gary and Stephen Caldwell, paid tribute to his family for helping him achieve his goal - even if it did come at the expense of his phone!

He said: "The amount of messages I have received is phenomenal.

"My phone packed in and I believe it is to do with the amount of messages and phone calls!

"I really wanted to achieve it not just for myself but the people around me, my mum and dad. They have put so much into my snooker. It gave me even more momentum to qualify. I wanted to achieve it for my mum and dad." Muir's pro card lasts for two years, when a cut-off of the 128 professional players will determine if he is given another card or if he has to enter a relegation zone, where players compete to retain their card. His aim is to use the match practice against the best players in the world to help improve his game even further.

"I'm not setting myself any aims in my first season," he said. "If I play my game I'll have good results and progress up the rankings.

"I don't really know what to expect from touring the world. It will be much more demanding than being an amateur.

"My dream to be in the top 16 in the world and win a pro ranking tournament."