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Andy Hicks says he nonetheless has what it takes to compete towards one of the best gamers in snooker.
The 49-year-old Devon-born participant, who trains in Cornwall, is ranked 59 on the earth and has been knowledgeable for greater than three many years.
He reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship in 2021 and the second spherical of this yr’s Welsh Open.
“Attending to the quarter-finals of the UK Championship was a pinnacle for me a few years in the past,” he stated.
Hicks instructed BBC Radio Devon: “That was slightly little bit of perception then, I truly performed fairly good snooker by means of that event and that gave me a bit extra perception that I do know I can nonetheless compete towards the highest boys.
“It simply turns into slightly bit more durable, you lose that consistency I feel as you get a bit older, however usually I really feel like I am taking part in fairly good snooker and I really feel like I can compete nonetheless.”
Hicks made a reputation for himself in rating occasions within the early a part of his profession, reaching the semi-finals of the European Open and Dubai Basic in 1993 earlier than dropping to Nigel Bond within the final 4 of the 1995 World Championship – and Ronnie O’Sullivan on the identical stage of the 1996 Masters.
He dropped out of the primary World Snooker Tour in 2013 however returned to the world’s high 64 in 2019 after qualifying by means of Q Faculty.
Residing close to Launceston in Cornwall Hicks is pressured to journey lengthy distances to most of his occasions, one thing which takes its toll as he will get older.
“As a result of a number of the matches are better of seven that is an excellent factor for people who find themselves slightly bit older on the tour, as a result of it is not taking a lot out of you day by day.
“I discover it a bit extra tiring practising, however I preserve myself pretty match in order that’s not likely a problem, it is extra the journey facet of it for me.
“Each time I am going to a event, as a result of most of them are up nation it is no less than a 4 or 5 hour journey, and that undoubtedly takes it out of me extra so as of late than it ever used to.
“I usually journey up on the day earlier than, however I do not practise after I stand up there like I used to, I simply usually sit back after which practise simply earlier than my match.”
With Hicks only a few locations above the cut-off for preserving his tour card for an additional yr, he has thought of a future with out snooker – though he says he is not going to surrender immediately.
“If I play this season and I fall off the tour – as a result of I’ve been competing at a excessive stage all season, albeit I most likely would not have executed that nicely this season – I feel I would most likely go to Q Faculty and see the way it went from there, simply to see if I may get again on.
“If I did not get again on by means of Q Faculty I feel I might just about retire for sure.
“I turned professional after I was 17, for those who’d stated I used to be nonetheless a professional coming as much as 50 I might have laughed at you at 17,” he added.
“All you are pondering at a younger age is ‘hopefully I am going to do OK’, you by no means suppose it’ll on 30-plus years.”
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