Campbell has sights set on top-32 place

GLASGOW snooker player Marcus Campbell believes that he can earn a place among the world's top 32 after the World Open in his home city in September.

The 37-year-old has been a professional since 1991 and is currently enjoying his highest ever ranking position of 40th in the world, having leapt 12 places in the past three seasons. And he is confident of jumping higher when the rankings are updated shortly after the new World Open, which runs from 18 to 26 September at the SECC.

Campbell, who qualified for four tournaments last season, said: "I think I'm virtually a certainty to get into the top 32, especially if I win my qualifying matches for the World Open. It would be fantastic to get through to my home tournament at the SECC; I qualified last year and brought a lot of family and friends along.

"I'm a better snooker player now than I've ever been. A couple of years ago I started practising with the likes of Stephen Maguire, John Higgins and Graeme Dott, and that's helped my ability to come out. I've put in a lot of hours on the table and it is paying off."

Campbell's career-best result was an astonishing 9-0 victory over Stephen Hendry in the 1998 UK Championship.