YOUGHAL youngster Ross Bulman underlined his growing reputation as a snooker player to watch after progressing to the second of the Northern Ireland Open. 

The 18-year-old from East Cork beat Zhang Jiankang, world number 89, at the Waterfront Hall. 

Bulman, still an amateur is now slated to face England's Joe Perry, ranked at 15th. 

Bulman's 4-1 victory on Tuesday morning showed what potential he has. Along with the likes of Noel Landers and Aaron Hill, and Greg Casey before them, the Leesider is part of the new wave of baizes aces from Rebel county.

Bulman has been a rising star since his early teens and sensationally captured a quartet of Irish titles at U16, U18, U19 and U21 in the same season when he was just 15.