Rising snooker star Michael White hopes he can recapture the form he showed at last season's World Championship as he looks ahead to the BetVictor Welsh Open, which startstomorrow.
Neath's 22-year-old White showed his huge potential with a run to the quarter-finals in Sheffield last April, scoring a brilliant win over two-time champion Mark Williams on his Crucible debut.
So far this term, White has continued to give glimpses of his talent, notably in a run to the quarter-finals of the Indian Open, but he is still waiting for his major breakthrough.
"Overall I haven't played as well as I did at the World Championship," admitted White. "In spells I have played some great snooker and wiped the floor with people, then at other times I have been below average. Consistency is lacking in my game and that is what I'm trying to find. I'm practising really hard and hoping to finish the season strongly.
"At the start of the season I was ranked on the edge of the top 32 and my target was to get into the top 20. I'm 35th now so that's going to be difficult. But my main ambition is to win a tournament and that's what I'm working towards. I know I have got the game to do it."
The BetVictor Welsh Open runs from February 19 to March 2 at the Newport Centre, with 128 players battling for the £60,000 first prize including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui.
White, one of ten Welsh players in the event, faces Chris Wakelin in his opening match during the afternoon session this Saturday.
"It will be the first time I have played in Newport as I've never qualified," White added. "My dad will be there to watch me for the first time since he came to the Crucible so that will spur me on. Hopefully there will be good crowds to support the Welsh players."
Tickets for the tournament are ON SALE NOW and fans are strongly advised to book fast as many sessions are expected to sell out quickly. For full details call 01633 656 757 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
The BetVictor Welsh Open is supported by Newport City Council.
