SNOOKER: The crunch is looming for Craig Steadman's ambitions of qualifying for the World Snooker Tour alongside the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins.

The Bolton cue star has qualified for two tournaments in the next six weeks that will make or break his season.

Should Steadman win either of the two tournaments, years of hard work will come to fruition and one of the country's best amateurs will finally get his shot at the big time.

Steadman, 24, plays in a 32-man play-off in Leeds at the end of this month, before flying out to Poland for the European Championships a week later.

"A win in either would put me on the main tour," said Steadman, who qualified for the European Championships by virtue of being rated one of the top two amateurs in the country.

"I have won two invitational events at Leeds recently so I have a bit of form going into that.

"However, it would be really nice to win in Poland.

"I have been playing well all season so I am confident. I have been pretty consistent and I have got an EASB tournament win under my belt too."

Steadman was part of the England team that came runners-up to Ireland in the European Team Championships in Glasgow in March.