Remember this name: Shaye Graham.
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If you haven’t heard of this 15-year-old from Mount Isa yet, you will in the coming years.
Shaye is one of the best 8 ball pool players for her age in the country and proved that by competing at the State Championships in Brisbane last month where she become Queensland's Under 18 Girl singles champion.
Shaye will now travel to Darwin in January to vie for a spot in the Australian squad that travels to England later in the year.
In Brisbane Shaye fended off the best girls in Queensland to become state champion.
“I was up against six other girls, there was a girl older than me, she was the one who held the title last year,” Shaye said.
“She’s based in Brisbane so it was her home ground.”
That didn’t put Shaye off who remained undefeated all day putting her through to a play-off against the defending champion for the trophy,
“It was the first to three (frames) and I won 3-1,” she said.
That’s just the start of big things for the local girl who is eyeing off the national titles in the Northern Territory early next year.
“From this one I go to Darwin in January and if I finish in the top six in that tournament, I play for Australia in England,” she said.
Shaye said she started playing pool around five years ago when the family bought a table for the pool room.
From this one I go to Darwin in January and if I finish in the top six in that tournament, I play for Australia in England
- Shaye Graham
“We all gave it a go and then we got into the league here in Mount Isa,” she said.
“We play competition every Sunday.”
It didn’t take long for Shaye to establish her natural skill at the game.
“For the last two years I finished number one lady in Mount Isa and number one junior,” she said.
“And I’m ranked third in Mount Isa out of the men.”
Shaye wants to change the perception of the sport.
“I think people see it as more of a pub sport and it isn’t competitive but it’s got a whole different side to it,” she said.
“It’s more mental than physical and I don’t think people realise that.”
The year 11 student at Good Shepherd College is certainly aiming big.
“My ultimate goal is to play for Australia,” Shaye said.