Ace Wild in global pursuit

SNOOKER: MICHAEL Wild will this weekend bid to book his place in two major international tournaments.

The Waterhead potting machine travels to Walsall for the fourth of six English Snooker and Billiards events designed to identify three players to represent the country in European and World Opens.

Wild (33) currently heads the English rankings, having lost in the final of the first tournament in Walsall, reached the semi-finals of the second in Woking and the last 16 of the third in Derby.

Wild, who practices regularly at Tara Leisure, sometimes with Tour professional Joe Swail, reckons one more good tournament can clinch his place in the top three, even though there are two more ESB events after the one this weekend.

“If I can get to the semi-finals or better, that should be enough,” he said.

Victory in the red-hot competition of the European or World Opens would secure a place on next year’s professional Tour, which is Wild’s goal.