UK Championship: York's Liam Pullen dreaming of his Barbican debut - 85 miles away in Wigan
Liam Pullen has always dreamed of playing in the UK Championship in his hometown of York.
The 20-year-old used to go to the Barbican as a youngster to watch the snooker, but is yet to step foot in the iconic arena as a player.
On Saturday, Pullen will play in the opening round of qualifiers for the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship at Wigan’s Robin Park – 85 miles away from York – knowing he will need to win four matches to secure a coveted Barbican ticket.
A field of 128 players – everyone outside the top 16 must compete – will battle over six days for just 16 final places.
For Pullen, realising his Barbican dream would guarantee a busy run-up to Christmas, with the UK Championship swiftly followed by the Shoot Out in Blackpool, and the Scottish Open.
“I have got the UK Championship qualifiers on Saturday,” Pullen told The Yorkshire Post. “Hopefully, the dream would be to qualify for the Barbican, that would be quality. To have the home crowd there, that would be special.
“After the UK Championship, there is the Shoot Out in Blackpool. If I won a couple of games there, I would have to go straight from Blackpool to Edinburgh for the Scottish Open. It could be interesting.
“I have never played at the Barbican. Now it’s harder to play at the Barbican because obviously they have made it a two-table set-up, so only 32 players now go (to York). It used to be 128, everyone on the Tour used to go.
“I think now it’s much better though, it makes (reaching York) more special if you qualify. The event looks unbelievable. It’s exactly the same format as the Crucible, the World Championship, so to qualify is a great achievement.
“I have been to watch the snooker at the Barbican quite a few times.
“It will be a packed crowd (in York), I think it’s full every round.”
Pullen – long-tipped as a future star after a successful junior career – swapped his Yorkshire training facilities this summer, for a switch to the Midlands.
It was a big move for the Yorkshireman, but improved results this season – he beat John Higgins on his way to the quarter-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix in China – have vindicated the switch.
“I am based at Landywood Snooker Club in Walsall, I live about 15 minutes away, a nice little village,” he said. “It’s really nice, that was one of the main worries about moving down. I am playing more top players now. I played Kyren (Wilson) yesterday, (Chris) Wakelin today, trying to get a game with (Mark) Selby, there’s lots of players around the Leicester area.
“I have been down about five months and feel like I am improving, made a few steps forward, but there’s plenty more to go.
“The win against Higgins gave me a lot of belief and confidence. That's probably boosted me, and in that same comp I reached the quarter-finals. I was happy with that, now I just have to push on. It’s been a good start, but could be better.”
So what does he need to improve on?
“Everything,” smiled Pullen. “Simple really, I need to improve on everything. Playing competitions, practicing as hard as possible, playing against top players.”
Pullen admits he struggled last season, but is now enjoying his game, as results on the table have improved.
“I am enjoying it now,” he admitted. “Last year I wasn’t at all, to be honest. Results were getting on top of me. The difference between the amateur and pro game is huge. I always knew it didn’t matter what you did on the amateur scene. The pro ranks is so much harder. When you are on Tour, no-one cares about what you have done as an amateur. It doesn’t really matter.”
For now, Pullen’s focus is on the qualifiers, where he plays Leicester’s Kaylan Patel on Saturday afternoon.
“He’s a couple of years younger than me and I have played against him a couple of times in the junior ranks,” said Pullen. “You just have to play who is in front of you.”