Wild’s UK focus

Michael Wild.

MOORSIDE snooker star Michael Wild is gearing up for the biggest tournament of his career so far.

The 34-year-old will tomorrow night take on Welsh star Dominic Dale in the first round of the Betway UK Championship at York’s Barbican Centre.

Wild, the world number 99, knows he will have his work cut out against a player ranked 67 players above him.

But, despite a setback in the International Championship in China where he lost 6-0 to Sanderson Lam of Leeds, Wild insists his confidence is intact.

“It just didn’t go for me in China,” said Wild in the build-up to the first to six frames clash. “The first two frames could have gone either way, but he pinched them and after that he played very well.

“At this level you have to start well otherwise these top players can pounce on you.

“That’s why I need to start well against Dale.

“I have only played him once before and that was in a PTC tournament in Gloucester. It was three frames each, but in the decider he potted a ridiculous long red and cleared up with a 130 break!

“I was not on the professional tour then and had to win four matches just to get to play him.”

Wild qualified for a second stint on the pro tour after winning the European Open in Prague earlier this year. His previous involvement was in the 2003-4 season.

Wild has become a more consistent player in recent years and is ready to shrug off his setback in China and focus on the positives which saw him beat superstar Judd Trump 6-0 in qualification for that event.

He said: “Things have been going well in practice.

“I have been hammering the table and practising with my friend, Craig Steadman from Bolton (the world number 69 who takes on Zhou Yoelong of China in the first round at York).”

Wild revealed that problems with the tip on his cue had been resolved.

“I needed a new tip on my cue before I went out to China and have had another two put on since I got back.

“But it’s sorted now and I am playing well in practice.

“This is a big tournament, second only to the World Championship, and there are a lot of ranking points at stake.

“But I can’t afford to look beyond the first game. I have to take it one match at a time.”

OLDHAM’S other representative in the UK Championship, Hamza Akbar, was today in first-round action against former dual World champion Mark Williams of Wales.