TAMWORTH snooker ace Dave Gilbert intends to put his UK Championships hoodoo behind him next month.

Gilbert has never qualified for the final stages of the tournament – snooker's second most prestigious event after the World Championships.

And despite a disappointing first round Masters qualifying defeat to Anda Zhang on Monday, Gilbert believes he can put that record right.

He told Herald Sport: "I've been working solid for six weeks and only finished on Saturday.

"I picked up a cue on Sunday but I hadn't played at all before the Masters – it just came at the wrong time for me.

"But I'm looking forward to the UKs – I'll be practising from this week and I'm going flat out to qualify for it.

"I lost to John Parrott in the final qualifier one year – I was 8-5 up but lost 9-8. I was absolutely gutted."

If he is to reach the televised stages this time, he must come through a tough qualifying section featuring Li Hang, Tony Drago, Mark Davis and wonderkid Judd Trump at Prestatyn from November 23-30.

Gilbert added: "It's one of the worst draws I could have had really.

"Ken Doherty and Mark Davis are the hardest two draws in one section and I've got Mark – and then the 'next big thing' Judd Trump after that.

"But I've got to win my opening match first."