Top potting prospect Luke Gilbert bounced back from serious illness to enjoy success.

The Huntingdon teenager is a rising star on the eight-ball pool circuit and gained international honours last year.

Gilbert suffered a burst appendix in May which led to a stay in hospital with blood poisoning.

He was unable to pick up a cue for six weeks, but soon put that lay-off behind him with some fine performances.

He enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship at Under 18 level, made it the semi-finals of the English Championship and also reached the last four of the Nations Cup singles.

But it was in a tem event where Gilbert had his finest moment of 2017, winning the crucial frame as the England’A’ team lifted the Home Internationals Cup.

Gilbert also led the Cambridgeshire county youth side to a second successive regional title and is now the top-ranked youth player in East Anglia. He won 31 out of his 32 frames in county competitions during the season.

And Gilbert is chasing more success this year. He is currently preparing for the European Championships in Malta.

Gilbert is scheduled to play in singles and team competitions at the event being staged at the Dolmen Resort Hotel in St Paul’s Bay from February 18 to 25.

Gilbert is also an accomplished snooker player and plays regularly in leagues in Peterborough, Cambridge and St Neots. He holds the current highest break in two of them.