Advertisement
Dubliner Fergal O'Brien. ChinaFotoPress/Photocome/Press Association Images
Determined

O'Brien eyeing one more major ahead of PTC finals in Galway

The Dubliner, who will compete against snooker’s best players this week, says he would be ‘hearbroken’ if he failed to win another big tournament.

THE BETFAIR PLAYERS Tour Championship gets underway tomorrow with over 40m viewers expected to tune in worldwide.

NUI Galway’s Bailey Allen Hall hosts the finals, which are contested by the top 24 players in the PTC Order of Merit, as part of an action-packed week for Irish sport.

The high profile event sees the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Fergal O’Brien in action over the four days and Dubliner O’Brien, who recently turned 40, is in bullish form.

“I believe I can still win another one (major trophy),” he said. “If you told me now that I won’t win one, I’d be heartbroken. I’m not sure I would continue playing.

I take inspiration from Steve Davis who is 54 and Phil Taylor in darts who is 51 but the best player by a mile. Physically I’m fitter now than I’ve ever been.”

O’Brien greatest achievement to-date was a British Open win in 1999. He finished 19th on the Order of Merit to comfortably qualify and takes on Joe Perry on Wednesday.

“I feel as if I am threatening a deep run in a tournament and I wouldn’t be that surprised if I had some big results around the corner,” he added.

The final takes place on Sunday and there are still tickets available for the whole competition from www.tickemaster.ie or at the venue itself.

There’s only so much GAA can do to keep stars here, says Colm O’Rourke

It’s all in his head: Di Matteo blames ‘psychological problem’ for Torres form