O'Neill knows he will need to step things up for Selby

Jamie O’Neill knows he needs to up his game to upset East Midlands rival Mark Selby when the pair meet in the Welsh Open tomorrow (Wednesday) – but it’s a challenge he is relishing.

The Wellingborough potter ground out a 4-3 win over Sean Maddocks in the first round in Newport to set up a tie with the Jester from Leicester, who is going in search of his third ranking title of the season.

Selby was a pink and black away from a 147 in his 4-1 win over Barry Pinches on Monday and O’Neill’s victory did not contain such fluency – the Northamptonshire man’s 61 to seal the decider was the only half-century break by either player.

But the result was all-important for the 34-year-old, who will be fine-tuning his preparation before taking on Selby after letting the basics slip against Maddocks.

“First round games are always a little bit twitchy,” he said.

“You just want to win and settle into the tournament. I played pretty terribly, really. I forgot to eat beforehand – I had a bit of breakfast then just forgot to eat.

“I just had to battle through it. He struggled too – we both had a lot of kicks and struggled to get going. There was no big scoring or anything but a win’s a win.

“After the first couple of frames I was saying to myself ‘battle it out’. I’ve been playing well in practice so I know it’s in there – it’s just bringing it to the match table.

“He (Selby) is a great player so I’ll have to up it from that performance. Hopefully I’ll settle and play some good stuff.

“I started to settle and time it towards the end of that one - I should have had a century in the last frame.”

O’Neill is among an array of players pleased to be enjoying new scenery at Celtic Manor, the venue for the first tournament this season to be played outside Milton Keynes.

It meant a longer commute for the world No.82 – and he is determined to ensure he won’t be making the return journey until much nearer the weekend.

“It’s great to be somewhere else for a change,” he said. “I’ve practiced downstairs and it’s lovely, a big open space.”

“I don’t mind Milton Keynes – I’m 20 minutes down the road so it’s perfect for me. But it feels a bit more normal to get in the car and have a long drive.

“I’m enjoying it – at least while I’m winning.”

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