9:00am Tuesday 1st September 2009
By Steve Carroll
TADCASTER cueman Gary Rogers has his eye on a quarter-final berth when he clashes with billiards’ best in the World Championships tomorrow.
Rogers kicks off his bid for glory with 15 other competitors in the sport’s premier tournament, which is being held at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds and runs until Sunday.
He faces number four seed Sourav Kothari, English amateur champion Martin Goodwill and Balachandra Bhaskar in his group with the top two securing a place in the last eight.
Last year, Rogers was competing back in the professional arena for the first time in several years and drew world champion Mike Russell in his group.
He was disappointed with his display after failing to get out of the group stages and admitted he had thoughts of packing in once more, but said he was indebted to friends for helping restore his game.
And, this time, he is determined to take the next step.
“I was quite disappointed but David Birch, of Heworth Conservative Club, got me back on it and brought me back,” he said.
“I am also indebted to Richard Stroughair, from Fulford Conservative Club, Gary Penrose at Cueball and Mark Winskill, also of Heworth.
“I changed my cue at the end of the last tournament and I am really pleased with the new one. I have started to show some good form and I have got to be positive.
“I feel much better than last year and, hopefully, I can get out of the group and into a quarter-final.
“The draw has been pretty good to me. I know Martin Goodwill – he’s the best amateur in the country – and the Indian players have not come here to make up the numbers.
“But I am pretty pleased with the draw.
“I know I will have to play well but I know all the players there and, if I can perform as well as I can, I know I can give anyone a game.
“I went through a bit of a rough trot, but I came out the other side and now I fancy my chances.”
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