WATCH: Amazing Irish boy smashes unique world record live on TV in Italy

Snooker and pool prodigy Adam Wynne has done it again.

The terrifically talented 12-year-old has made it into the official Guinness World Records by potting 99 snooker balls in 58 seconds during a televised test in Milan.

The youngster flew to the Italian city with his parents Sean and Elaine and sisters Kellie and Emma for the world record attempt in March.

Now, with an embargo at last lifted on broadcast of the event, the amazing feat can be viewed by everyone.

Adam, who appeared on RTE's Late Late Show and sprung to international public prominence at the age of just six when he featured on the hit US talent TV show Little Big Shots America, was invited by Guinness World Records to break a world record on their Milan-based TV show, Lo Show Dei Record.

Contact was initially made with the Wynne family last November and they were delighted to fly over to Milan this spring.

He was set the challenge of potting 60 snooker balls in 60 seconds. The rules stipulate that 25 balls are lined up near the cushion of four separate tables and the competitor must attempt to pot each ball in turn into the middle pocket.

Adam accepted the challenge, began practising at home and demonstrated to himself and his family that he could potentially not just break the record but smash it. He clocked up 80 potted balls in 60 seconds in training.

“We knew he was going to break the world record,” said his father Sean. “But then you have to take [into account] the lights, the camera, pressure, everything like this, the studio was packed, the crowd are clapping.”

Adam's turn finally arrived to take his place under the glare of the TV cameras in front of an expectant audience and after a warm-up trick shot he appeared unfazed and had just one request – that his father set up the balls for him on the tables for the record attempt.

The organisers told him he would have three chances to break the record. Should he fail once, his father would be called again to reset the tables.

Adam looked at the man from Guinness and said: “Daddy won't be coming back out.”

Adam stood at the table, positioned his cue and effortlessly began potting balls one after another, so quick in fact that the Italian presenter likened him to a machine gun.

“He had the world record beaten in 30 seconds. I've never, ever witnessed anything like it, it was frightening to see,” said his father.

He was so swift that with two seconds left on the one-minute countdown he had run out of balls to pot. Of the 100 available across four tables, he missed just one.

“Adam was born with a natural talent, a natural gift. He never spends hours on a pool table, he just can pick up the cue and make the balls talk to him.”

Yet his father recalls when the boy “retired” after being the only Irish person ever to feature on Little Big Shots America.

“He had enough. Then he tried to go back [playing] when he was eight or nine and there was a tournament in the Bridge House and he couldn't pot a ball. And I remember him roaring crying, saying I've lost it, I can't do this no more,” said Sean.

“Then at 10 years of age a young lad at school said to him you can't do it any more and that just lit the fire and he came back and within two months he's in an all Ireland final. Last year he won four out of six Irish ranking events, he's the all Ireland champion, he's ranked number one in the country, he's the Irish captain, he's the IPA (Irish Pool Association) player of the year. For a gosson that was crying coming out of the Bridge House, not to be able to pot a ball to then eventually win an All-Ireland title, to prove he was the best and then go and break a world record.”

Adam is laid back about his achievements and never blows his own trumpet. In fact, he did not even tell his teacher at Coolanarney National School that he would need a few days off to go to Italy for the world record attempt.

“We had to go in and tell the teacher because he wouldn't tell anyone.”

Sean and a number of others run the Cue Academy in Tullamore and Adam practises there regularly with some other very promising young players including Liam Dunne, John O'Meara, and Cian Bracken, with whom he has competed at national and European level. 

Adam is already good enough to play at under 23 and senior level but his father said he remains “a good kid”. When he's not in school or playing pool he can be found working with his father's business, Tamburah Sprayfoam Insulation Ltd.

“I've seen him beat young lads in finals and the other young lad would be crying and Adam would drop the cue and put his arm around him and say I've been where you are and keep going. To me that's what's really important.”

And looking to the future, Sean said: “I just let him be a kid and whatever happens, happens. I want him to be a child, I've always said that.”