SNOOKER legend Steve Davis can’t see any reason why Ali Carter won’t be crowned UK champion on Sunday.

Davis was sat in his chair throughout much of Sunday’s 6-2 loss to Carter, where the two-time World Championship finalist was efficient without really needing to hit top gear.

While Davis recognised he did not perform against the world number 15, who plays Judd Trump’s conqueror Mark Joyce today, he said: “Ali is a potential winner of the tournament.

“He’s so good. He’s got a great temperament. He gets annoyed with himself but plays the right shot afterwards.

“He doesn’t lose it. I expect him to win something big at some stage – somewhere down the line, in the next couple of years, I do feel as if he has got the cue action and the game.

“He is such a great cueist, you feel like you are really up against it. He’s so accurate and I’d rather play someone who had more flair but was more inaccurate. He’s got every shot you could ever want to play. He’s a really good player.”