Cubbington 1sts snooker player Mark White moved a step closer to a pro tour place with victory at the EASB Pro-Ticket South Event 4 tournament in Birmingham at the weekend.
White, 35, competed on the Challenge Tour for three years in his 20s, but had long since given up hope of making it as a professional.
However, after finishing in the top 16 in the southern section - despite only playing two of the four qualifying
tournaments - White is now among 32 of the country's top players chasing two coveted places on the 2010-11 WSA Main Tour.
"I didn't expect much," said White. "I've been away from the scene for ten years, got a job and starting working.
"However, I've still got the game. I can't pot like I used to but I've got the experience and my safety and break-building has improved."
White went down 4-0 to Mitchell Mann in the quarter-final of Event 3 and admitted he felt out of his depth.
However, buoyed by some encouraging recent results, including a 5-2 win over the country's top-ranked amateur Liam Highfield, White turned on the style in Event 4.
A 4-1 win over 13th-ranked Richard Somaroo, which included a 117 break in the first frame was followed by a 4-0 win over England international Martin O'Donnell with further breaks of 89 and 81.
In the quarter-finals White recovered from 3-0 down to beat Event 3 winner Adam Wicheard 4-3, knocking in breaks of 56, 44 and 61.
A 4-3 semi-final success over Daniel Ward was then followed by a 5-1 win over Event 1 winner Rob James in the final, with the Leamington & District League player producing a 130 break.
White now moves forward to Stage 2 which will see him competing at three further events - starting in Leeds on February 20 and 21 - with points carried forward from the first stage.
The top ranked player will be nominated for a WSA Main Tour place for 2010-11, with a play-off taking place between the next 16 highest ranked players for the remaining tour nomination.
