Qualifier Gould shocks Fu

Former poker club croupier Martin Gould recovered from 8-6 down to beat Marco Fu in a final-frame decider in their first-round match at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Gould knocked in a break of 90 to seal a 10-9 success, the latest in a string of painful losses Fu has suffered this season.

Fu began the year as the world number eight but has won fewer ranking points than any of the top 16, leaving him clinging to a place in the elite.

Gould had won the final two frames of Sunday's first session to narrow the gap from 5-2 to 5-4, and when he levelled at 5-5 on Monday morning the momentum was with him.

The London potter had beaten former finalist Nigel Bond to reach the Crucible and was determined to do himself justice.

The quality remained patchy, but after Fu edged ahead once more there was a strong response from Londoner Gould, who made a break of 66 to draw level at 6-6.

Hong Kong cueman Fu, 32, pinched another tight frame to move 7-6 in front at the mid-session interval.

Maximum chance

Fu came to life in the 14th frame, rattling in seven reds and blacks before running slightly short of position, eliminating the potential for a 147 maximum.

He reached 79 before screwing the white into the middle pocket, but it was a frame-winning break nonetheless.

Gould hit back with 53 in the next to narrow the gap to 8-7, and then showed resolve to draw level.

Against the odds he crept in front, needing one more for victory, but Fu came back at him.

Just as with Stephen Hendry's match against Zhang Anda on Sunday night, the decider was necessary, and Gould took his chance, leaving Fu scoreless in his seat.

Gould ranked his victory as one of the best of his career.

"It was in the top three at least," he said. "It's my biggest pay day so far but money doesn't really bother me.

"I just want to move up the rankings even further."

Devoted

Gould believes such wins justify his decision to devote himself full time to snooker, and revealed how his previous job was causing injuries.

"It was hurting my back a lot as I was sitting in a swivel chair for six, seven or eight hours a night," he added.

"In the mornings I just couldn't get out of bed, and also it ruined my drinking weekends as well with friends."

On the other table, Welshman Mark Williams eked out a 5-4 advantage over Scotland's Marcus Campbell, making his second Crucible appearance nine years after losing in the first round to Anthony Hamilton.

Williams, a two-time world champion and winner of the China Open in March, struggled for fluency but edged ahead with a 53 break - the only half-century of the session - in the final frame.