The 22-year-old first picked up a cue as a little boy and has played competitively since the age of 10 with the West Yorkshire County Pool team.

And after multiple failed trials for England, he finally made a maiden appearance for his country at the IEPF World Championships in Morocco this autumn, where he struck gold.

Walker was part of the England B side that won the Under-23 team title, as they saw off the likes of England A and Australia, before beating South Africa 8-6 in the final.

The Shipley ace told the T&A: “It’s a massive relief to actually get in the England team, never mind winning the whole thing, so that was massive bonus.”

“I’ve had trials for England since I was about 14, trying to get into the under-18s and I just kept failing and failing.”

“I finally got in this year, then I had to trial again to get into the actual England team.”

Walker and his three team-mates were not favourites for the title in Morocco and he said: “People probably looked at us and didn’t know our names, so they underestimated us.”

“But the top England players can play as well as most A-teams, so we just did what we do and managed to win it.

“All the games were close and maybe some of them shouldn't have been, like the final, but as long as you get over the line, that's the main thing.”

Lewis Walker has a moment to himself with the trophy out in Marrakech. (Image: Ultimate Pool)

Discussing his sporting upbringing, Walker said: “My parents have been going in pubs since they were young and my dad has always played pool since he was about 16, so they got me into it early.”

“I started when I was about four, just moving a stool around the table and standing on it to play.”

“One of my parents' friends mentioned County Pool when I was 10, so I got into that then and I've been in it every year since.”

Walker still trains close to home too, despite his breakthrough on the international stage.

He said: “I play mainly in Keighley, at a club called Pilky’s, but I travel around Yorkshire really.”

“I've got a few mates who live in Leeds and Wakefield, so I practice with them sometimes too.”

Walker’s hard work in West Yorkshire has paid off, and next up for him is the U23 European Championships, which will take place in Malta next February.

Asked about the thrilling prospect of a World and European double, Walker admitted: “It would be crazy, especially with it being my first two events as well.”

But Walker will soon be ineligible for Under-23 selection, so could a senior England call-up be on the cards soon?

He said: “I'm hoping so.”

“I think it's a lot harder in terms of being able to get in through trials.”

“I think there's only one spot in the team available that way, because they pick all the other players.”

“It's going to be really hard, but I don't see why I can't get in, as I think I'm definitely near that level.”