Pool: Camm convinced he is back where he belongs

FORMER England number one pool star Wayne Camm says his performances on his return to the top level of the game have confirmed he belongs there full-time.

Following a self-imposed six-year absence, the 36-year-old reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge event in round one of the UK Pool Tour in Blackpool.

WELCOME BREAK: But the returning Wanye Camm is now determined to prove he has what it takes to compete at the top-level of the game. Picture: Wayne Camm

That came after being knocked out in the second round of the main event, losing 7-3 to eight-ball legend Keith Brewer.

But victory in his first game, getting the better of Robert Tichener by a single-frame out of 13, and his subsequent march into the last eight after dropping into the Challenge format, left Camm pleased with his weekend's work.

The Grimsby potter said: "I showed my vulnerability a little bit with not knowing some of the rules and being a bit short of match practice.

"If I hadn't have had the win over Tichener, I may have lost one or two of the others, but overall I was pleased with how it went.

"I had one or two good games and beat some good players.

"I proved I can still play at that level. When some of the games were open they couldn't deal with me.

"The best thing was I got some match practice which will stand me in good stead for the next main event, which is at Easter."

Camm, a former top-four European professional, enjoyed Challenge wins over Kevin McGarry (4-2), James Ellis (4-0), Jamie Simmons (5-1) and Matt Brannan (5-4), before losing in the quarter-finals to eventual runner-up Lee Pickard (3-5).

Camm is now looking to compete in competitions up and down the country, and has an appearance in Hull lined up in a fortnight before a pro-am event in Hertfordshire.

"When I lost in the main event it was against probably the greatest eight-ball player that has ever lived," said Camm on his loss to Brewer.

"I got a lesson in the rules. I was pleased in a sense as it taught me the shots to play.

"Sat there watching him pot made me realise there is a tactical side to it as well.

"I will be looking now for weekend events to get that match practice in, and to get where I want to be.

"Everything else was fine. My breaks were good, and I was actually disappointed I only got to the quarter-finals of the other event.

"It was a good learning curve and I could see the standard of play at that level.

"It is just match practice I need now and hopefully I can get that at a few tournaments."