TROWBRIDGE player Adam Wicheard is hoping he’ll have the finances to embark on an Eastern adventure next year after earning a place in the last 64 of the World Open in China.

The 28-year-old, who spent the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons on the World Snooker Tour, earned his berth as he beat world number 60 Liu Chang 5-2 in the qualifying round at the Barnsley Metrodome.

The Wiltshire cueman will now take on world number 17 Mark Davis at Hainan International Exhibit Centre in Haikou next March but admits his attendance at one of the world’s top ranking events isn’t a certainty.

“To be honest, I haven’t really been playing as much as I’d like to because I don’t have a sponsor at the moment so I’m paying for travel, accommodation and entry fees,” said Wicheard.

“I only really decided to go for the qualifier because the prize money for getting in to the last 64 was £3000 – luckily, it was a good decision.

“It was a great result and I’ve never been over to China before. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and hopefully I’ll be able to go. But that all depends on if I can find the money to afford to go out there because it’s a long old trip.”

Wicheard’s long-term training base has been the back room of a Trowbridge pet shop but the Wiltshire player is on the hunt for new practice venue.

He said: “I’ve got another month at the pet shop so I desperately need to fine somewhere else.

“That did work out great because I could come and go as I pleased.

“Of course, a snooker table is quite big so it’s not the easiest thing in the world to sort out.”

  • ANYONE interested in sponsoring Wicheard or assisting with a new practice venue can e-mail the Trowbridge player at wichman@hotmail.co.uk

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