Gunnell aims for Telford qualification

Snooker ace Adrian Gunnell will this weekend attempt to ensure Shropshire representation at the county's premier sporting event of 2008, writes JAMES GARRISON.

Gunnell must win two qualifying matches at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield to book his place in the Maplin UK Championships at Telford's International Centre, which get underway a week on Saturday.

The Telford 36-year-old, who has recently moved from Oakengates to Dawley, faces Matthew Selt tomorrow, the first time the two players have ever met.

And should he be victorious, he will meet six-times world champion Steve Davis in final qualifying on Monday.

That would be a repeat of the last 16 meeting between the pair at the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Scotland in October, which Davis edged 5-4.

"It''s a big weekend for me because it would be brilliant to get to Telford again," said Gunnell.

"I had good support last year but didn't really do myself justice (losing 9-3 to Ding Junhui) so it would be nice to get there again.

"The back problems I had two years ago returned last week for a few days and I was in agony.

"But it's cleared up now and practice has been going pretty well."

All qualifying matches will be over the best-of-17-frames.