Liang's Grand Prix aim

Liang: Potting machine

I want to go on to the qualifiers next week, keep my good form going and try to win my match and make sure I will be at Glasgow, as I know the Grand Prix is one of the most important tournaments.

Liang Wenbo
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New rising Chinese star Liang Wenbo is determined to make it through Grand Prix qualifying and build on his impressive start to the season in Shanghai.

Attacking left-hander Liang made it all the way to the final of the Shanghai Masters last week, where he only lost out on the trophy when beaten 10-5 by Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Beating the likes of Ali Carter and defending champion Ricky Walden, along with former world champions Peter Ebdon and Shaun Murphy, still represented his best run in a ranking event.

Liang's previous best run was a quarter-final appearance at the 2008 World Championship, when he also lost to O'Sullivan, and he now feels he is ready to make a sustained challenge in the big events.

The 22-year-old needs to win just one match at the Grand Prix qualifiers in Prestatyn to make the tournament proper in Glasgow, and he will go there in great spirit after his Shanghai surprise.

"I had the best week of my snooker career so far in Shanghai," said Liang.

Confidence

"It was really exciting and it's given me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. Beating four top players, who have all won ranking events, has helped me prove to myself that I belong at that level."

The Grand Prix qualifiers in Prestayn start on Monday, with 80 players battling for the 16 places open to join the world's top 16 players at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow - where the Grand Prix will be staged from October 3 to 11.

Some huge names such as Steve Davis, Jimmy White, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott will be there fighting it out for Grand Prix places.

Liang will play on Thursday and faces one of Dominic Dale, Jin Long, Ben Woollaston or Zhang Anda, and he hopes to maintain his Shanghai form.

"I want to go on to the qualifiers next week, keep my good form going and try to win my match and make sure I will be at Glasgow, as I know the Grand Prix is one of the most important tournaments," said Liang, who is based at Sheffield's World Snooker Academy during the season.

"I will keep working hard on my game at the Academy, and hope I can earn some success for myself and for Chinese snooker."