LINES ENDS SEVEN-YEAR ITCH

Well done to Peter Lines, who has qualified for the final stages of a ranking tournament for the first time in seven years following his 9-6 defeat of Nigel Bond in the Pukka Pies UK Championship.

His last appearance at a main tour final venue was at Telford for the 2002 British Open and he is heading back to the town's International Centre to face Marco Fu in a week's time.

Peter was recognised as a terrific talent when he turned professional in 1991.

This was when the game was open and there were over 600 professionals, so it was tough to make progress but Lines enjoyed early wins over the likes of Martin Clark, Mike Hallett and Willie Thorne.

On his only Crucible appearance in 1998, he lost to John Parrott but made a 141 total clearance.

Lines beat John Higgins in the 1999 China Open in Shanghai and reached his only ranking event quarter-final, where he was beaten 5-4 by Brian Morgan.

His highest ranking was 42nd in the 1999/00 season.

Lines declined in recent seasons but showed excellent form in the UK qualifiers, making two centuries in his first match and three in the last four frames of his second.

In recent times he received coaching and advice from Steve Prest, who sadly died earlier this year.

And Peter's son, Oliver, has also shown evidence of his potential during junior tournaments.

It's good to see a player regarded as a journeyman clawing his way out of the qualifiers to be part of a tournament, although he will likely have to raise another gear to go any further in the event.