Jester's cue for the last laugh

What's it like to step out, amid the flashbulbs and fans, into the theatre of the green baize?

Having lived and breathed every shot during major televised championships, every snooker fan, whether they can play or not, has dreamed about the situation.

Many of us have already knocked our idols - whether it's Rocket Ronnie or Stephen Hendry - into a cocked hat, albeit only on our PlayStations.

But the reality of taking on the giants of snooker in the public spotlight is an altogether different proposition.

147? More like 1471. Don't call us, we'll call you.

Yet this is precisely what happened in Shropshire last month: thanks to main sponsor Maplin and the Shropshire Star, ordinary snooker-loopy people from Shropshire found themselves suddenly cue-ing up to play their idols.

The pressure was on.

The conditions were ideal for the potential taking of a scalp: a wet and blustery day in the middle of a car park in Telford.

Surely Mark Selby, runner up in this year's World Snooker Championship, had never played in such testing surroundings.

Selby was here to promote a sporting scoop for Shropshire - the Maplin UK championship, second only in stature to the world championship and being staged for the first time on county soil at the Telford International Centre.

Hollinswood cue ace Steve Camp, who plays for the Shropshire pool team, already had a history with Selby. The pair knew each other from clashes between his county side and Selby's Leicestershire squad.

Selby, the world pool champion, had twice beaten our man who was in the mood for revenge.

In the first game against the champ, however, he barely got a shot.

"He broke and cleaned up," says Steve, 34.

The second match, however, is a different story. Not even the good natured jibes from the Selby camp - and he is known for his gags, being known as the Leicester Jester - could put a stop to Steve's 50-break, although he admits that with victory in sight it takes more than a little steel to remain calm.

"That was good fun," he says afterwards. "Best of three?"

Selby's trademark humour is evident even in defeat. "If you need any tips, here's one - don't pot as many balls," says the 24-year-old pro.

The allcomers all kept coming. For Selby, who practices at the table for up to six hours a day, winning is a way of life; losing is not an option - even when his next competitor is aged 12 and has only been playing snooker for seven months.

Step up to the plate, Ryan Dudley. In the match between the Admaston Ace and the Leicester Jester there was only going to be one winner, but for young Ryan it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the smile on his face is a sight to behold.

Earlier, Matthew Adams from Shrewsbury could barely contain his excitement to be standing in the same room - or rather, tent - as his hero.

He admitted to pre-match nerves before getting beaten good and proper by Selby.

"It's just great to play against Mark, he's in the top ten in the world - it's unbelievable just to be here," says Matthew.

As he watches fellow amateurs befall a similar fate, he marvels at the speed and accuracy of Selby's cue work.

"Unbelievable," he says shot after shot. Parts of Selby's dazzling display has Mark shaking his head in disbelief. Some shots, seen up close and personal, are so spectacular that they just make him laugh out loud.

"Imagine being able to do that," he says. And then he laughs again.

Elvis fan Kevin Mitchell comes in for some good natured abuse for his passion for the King.

"Where's your blue suede shoes?" asks Selby, whose humour is in as good form as his cue hand.

But for a brief spell at the table, Kevin puts together a string of shots that would have had commentator Dennis Taylor's funny spectacles steaming up.

"That tip I gave you last match - it's worked," says Selby after the Dawley man rockets a brown into the top pocket.

Inevitably there is always only going to be one winner and Kevin is gracious in defeat. There are sportsmanlike handshakes, just like the type you see on the telly after major matches, although the initially orthodox shake does eventually mutate into several variations on what is generally recognised in the book of traditional hand greetings.

Earlier, the games got off to an auspicious start when the lighting in the marquee where the snooker table, which had been set up outside Maplin Electronics, crackled into action.

"This doesn't happen on the telly," jokes Selby.

"Does anyone know a good electrical store," someone pipes up from the assembled crowd.

"Raynor stopped play," says Phil Raynor, Maplin content manager, as he swung into action to fix the electrics.

In the build-up to the Maplin UK championship, everyone seemed happy.

For Mark Selby, the day was a taste of what Shropshire snooker has to offer and he was complimentary about their talents.

For our brilliant and gallant snooker fans, it was a day when most of them seemed happy to be beaten by the better man.

Snooker - it's not as easy as it looks on the telly.