SNOOKER star Ross Muir is gearing up for one of the most important weekends of his sporting life as he bids to reach the sport’s top table.
Sixteen of the world’s best amateur players meet in Darlington on Saturday in an attempt to secure a spot on the sport’s professional tour.
Muir, who agonisingly missed out on finishing top of the Q Tour standings having led until the final match of the last of the six events, faces off against England’s Peter Devlin.
He told Courier Sport: “When it comes to the tour card qualification, this is probably the toughest route there is.
“It is 16 amateur or semi-professional players and there are some top players that did not even make the top 16.
“It is a very competitive and tough event, and I have been putting a lot of work in.
“I am very interested to see how I fare.
“It is a good challenge for myself and something I have used as a good motivation for practice recently.
“I’m very confident that I am going to have a good run in the event.”
Earlier this year, Muir came within one match of securing a return to the top level of the sport.
READ MORE: Snooker star Ross Muir ready for Q Tour challenge
He lost out to Martin O’Donnell in the final of the sixth event at the beginning of the year, with his rival now guaranteed his place alongside the sport’s top players.
Four matches stand in Muir’s way of joining him, starting with a best-of-seven contest with Devlin.
The two players have only met in the shootout version of the sport before but Muir was expecting a tough opening contest.
The Musselburgh potter said: “He has been on the tour a couple of years.
“I have not played him in a standard snooker format and met him once in the shootout, which he won. “But you cannot really read too much into that event.
“He is a great player and has got some good wins when on the tour this season.
“He has been really competitive in the Q Tour as well and it is going to be a tough match.
“It is a challenge and I am really looking forward and excited to see how I fare.”
READ MORE: Snooker star Ross Muir and Musselburgh Athletic link up
Muir, 27, previously spent five years on the circuit as a professional.
Over recent years, his amateur status has allowed him to attempt to qualify for a number of tournaments.
Last month, he faced off against seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Welsh Open.
O’Sullivan would emerge victorious 4-3 but only after the tip of his cue came off in the first frame and again in the second frame.
The Englishman then lost the sixth frame under the three miss rule, despite having more points on the scoreboard.
Muir said: “To say it was ‘very interesting’ is quite an understatement.
“In 17 years of playing snooker, I have never experienced where my or my opponent’s tip has come off.
“For it to happen in back-to-back frames is quite something.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here