Adrian Gunnell is hoping to peak at the right time as he finalises preparations for his World Snooker Championship shoot-out this weekend.
The Telford cueman meets Stuart Bingham for a place in the final stages of the sport’s biggest tournament at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Saturday.
Gunnell has never qualified for the last 32 at the Crucible, and will once again be underdog with Bingham 12 places ahead of him in the provisional rankings at 23.
But the 35-year-old insists he is in a more confident mood now than he was three weeks ago.
“I was playing shocking back then,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling well and I think my confidence was affected a little bit because I was having problems finding a new tip.
“But I’ve got a new one one now and I have put in a lot of work in over the last few days.
“There have been plenty of times in the past I’ve been flying going into tournaments and then messed it up, so hopefully I will peak on the right day this time.”Despite an encouraging season, Gunnell knows victory on Saturday will not guarantee him a place in the top 32 of the world rankings.
He is likely to require at least one victory at the Crucible to achieve that, and believes that will help his mindset.
“If the match had been to get into the top 32, then there would have been more pressure on it,” he said.
“Obviously I’m desperate to win but whatever happens I’ve had a good season. I’ve just got to go out there and give it my best shot.”
The best of 19-frames clash is over two sessions at 10am and 4pm.
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