PICKERING potter Paul Davison aims to crack the world’s top 64 snooker players as he begins the build up to a crucial new season.

The 39-year-old, currently at a career-high 72 in the rankings, said his priority for the 2011/2 campaign was to try to qualify for the major tournaments while lifting himself into the next echelon of players.

Davison regained his place on the main tour a year ago following two victories in the Pontin’s International Open Series tour. He kept his card for this season following some strong qualifying performances, including in the World Open, where he was beaten 3-1 by Jimmy White in the third round.

With the UK Championship returning to York in December, Davison is determined to get his season off to a flier in the first Players Tour Championship (PTC) event, held at Sheffield’s World Snooker Academy from June 20, and use it as a springboard to appear at York’s Barbican Centre and make the top 64.

Although only eight places separate Davison from his season’s ambition, the benefits for breaking into the elite band of rankings are extremely important.

Being in the top 64 means players start qualifying events in round two and also means they can avoid playing a potential “big gun” in the early stages of tournaments.

Davison currently has to qualify for events from the first round, meaning he meets a top 64 player in round two – a roll of honour which includes the likes of White, Steve Davis and Alan McManus.

Top 16 players automatically qualify for the main stages of ranking events.

“I’ve got to get into the top 64,” he said. “If you can do that, you are guaranteed a tour place and, on paper at least, it makes qualifying slightly easier.

“To achieve this, I reckon I have got to win the first round match in the seven or eight major ranking tournaments. If you do that, you can be reasonable consistent in the PTCs and you wouldn’t be too far away.

“If I can win a couple of matches in the World and UK events – that would seal it. It would be fantastic. I’ve been close a few times but it would be great to do it.”

On the upcoming, PTC schedule, Davison added: “I plan to play all six in this country and those in Europe as well. At the beginning of last season, I played in the PTCs but didn’t do too well in other ranking events.

“But the match practice helps you after Christmas because you play quite a lot but you don’t feel too stale.

“The ranking events are obviously where you want to do well but if you can also do well in the PTCs, and get a few points, it can only help your ranking.”

Meanwhile, World Snooker have confirmed that the opening rounds of the UK Championship will be best-of-11 frame matches up to the quarter-finals.

Tickets for the event, from December 3 to 11, go on sale on July 15.

For further information visit www.worldsnooker.com or www.yorkbarbican.co.uk