Snooker ace Ross Muir sets sights on Scottish Open

The first round of the tournament is played in Cannock, near Birmingham, before Edinburgh’s Meadowbank hosts the competition for the first time.

Muir, who is first reserve, will find out later this week if he is among those lining up in the prestigious event in the Capital on November 28.

The Musselburgh player was delighted to see the event taking place in Edinburgh, having been held in Llandudno and Milton Keynes for the last two years.

He said: “From a personal perspective, it is absolutely amazing.

“I could not pick a better venue – it is 10 minutes along the road.

“If somebody was to ask, ‘Where do you want the Scottish Open to take place?’ I would pick Meadowbank.

“From that perspective, it is the dream venue for any snooker fan around the Edinburgh and East Lothian area.

“It is absolutely amazing.”

Muir, who turns 27 today (Thursday), is no stranger to the competition having reached the third round in 2018.

Ross Muir is aiming to secure his spot in the World Snooker Championship. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

On that occasion, he knocked out Alexander Ursenbacher before one of the best results of his career when he defeated 2010 world champion Neil Robertson.

Muir said: “I have had a few good results over the years in the Scottish Open, including beating Neil Robertson.

“Obviously, it is one of the most important tournaments for me.

“It is certainly one I want to do well in and I always put it quite high on my priority list.

“I can have family and friends there and it is a fantastic thing to have and, with it being on home soil, who does not want to win the Scottish Open in Edinburgh?

“From my perspective, that is something I have been dreaming about since I was a young kid, picking up a cue.”

Currently, Muir is competing in world snooker’s second tier.

Q School provides a pathway to the World Snooker Tour, where the elite of the sport play.

At the beginning of last month, the former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil won the first event of the Q Tour season.

He won three matches, defeating Michael Collumb, Tyler Rees and Leo Fernandez, including posting the highest break of tournament, 137, to reach the finals day.

Muir then defeated Jamie Curtis-Barrett and Rory McLeod to set up a final with George Pragnall in North Shields.

A break of 107 in a 5-2 win over Pragnall helped him to take the title and he now sits second in the Q School rankings.

His good form continued at the British Open last week, where he defeated Zak Surety to reach the second round and a contest with Chen Zifan.

It looked as if Muir’s journey in the tournament would come to an end when he trailed 3-0 to the Chinese player in the best-of-seven contest.

However, Muir turned it round and told Courier Sport: “I have had a really good, solid season so far.

“At the British Open, I got to the third round and I won the second-round match from 3-0 down and literally in no man’s land.

“I dug so deep and came back to make a great 68 in the decider to win that one.”