On the cusp of his third season as a pro, Belgium's 21-year-old Julien Leclercq reflects on what he has learned from his first two years on the tour, and looks ahead to the coming campaign.
Julien, how much are you looking forward to the new season?
I'm very excited, I haven't played a match since the World Championship qualifiers in April so I want to get started again. I only had a few days rest and then I was practising again.
How do you reflect on your results and performances last season?
I got nervous towards the end because my tour card wasn't safe. Going into the world qualifiers I had to win my first match against Haydon Pinhey otherwise I would have been going to Q School. I didn't play well but I won 10-3 so that took a lot of pressure off. Next time I don't want to be in that position again. My goal for the first part of the new season is to get well up into the top 64 so I am not risking dropping off the tour at the end of the season.
Still, to keep your tour card after your first two seasons is a good achievement. What have you learned?
Yes I am happy just to keep my card. I have learned so much. Mainly about life on tour in terms of travelling to events. It is not easy, living in Belgium and going to the UK or other countries for every tournament. Things like arranging travel by train and booking the right hotels close to the venues, that takes time to learn everything, and I do it all myself, or sometimes my girlfriend Chloe helps me. I know a lot more about that now, so next season I won't need four hours of searching online just to find the right hotel! That will take away some stress. In terms of my game, I have had to get better at safety. When I turned pro, my safety wasn't great. But on the tour, if you can't play safety you will be killed. The other thing I have tried to learn is to accept defeat. It's hard when you lose. But there is no point getting angry or frustrated. Staying positive on the mental side is so important.
What was your best moment last season?
Winning that first qualifying match in the world qualifiers because after that I knew I would probably stay on tour. My uncle Joel came to watch - he has been to a few tournaments, he absolutely loves snooker and it is great to have him in the crowd.
...and the worst?
In the qualifying round for the International Championship, I was 5-5 with Si Jiahui and in the last frame I was 56-0 ahead but he cleared up with 68. That was painful because I want to qualify for more events in China. I played there three times as an amateur but I am yet to play in a pro tournament there.
Ben Mertens joined the tour at the same time as you, how much has that helped both of you over the first two years?
He is my best friend and we have been playing snooker together since we were nine years old. He only lives 20 minutes away so we practise together a lot. There has never been any jealousy, we are always happy for each other's success. We are going through some of the same experiences on tour so it really helps to have someone to speak to. And when we have time off we play video games like Call of Duty, but I always win, he's a very bad gamer!
Have you thought about moving to the UK?
When I first turned pro I considered it, but then I decided to stay in Belgium. I have Chloe there - she is studying psychology at university - as well as my friends and family, it's more important to me to be close to them. People might think I would learn more by practising with other players in the UK, but I learn most by playing matches. And I often watch my matches again on video and try to work on the mistakes I made.
During your first season you reached the final of the Shoot Out, did that give you a taste for the big occasion?
Yes - every player on tour wants to be in the big finals. Also I want to do well to help inspire more young players from Belgium.
What's the best venue you have played at?
The Tempodrom in Berlin. You are so close to the crowd, it's an amazing atmosphere.
Finally, what's the best thing about being a snooker player?
The chance to travel the world and share some of those experiences with my family. And to play snooker on live TV - that's what I always dreamed about. I can't complain about anything.