Gould sees off Swail at UK Championship

Pinner’s Martin Gould said his game was looking in good shape after overcoming veteran Joe Swail in the first round of the UK Championships in York.

Gould, the world number 18, saw off Swail 6-3, in a repeat of their last-16 match at the tournament two years ago.

He held the lead throughout, opening with a break of 57 and finishing it off with a fantastic 108.

Swail, now 48, was a two-time World Championship semi-finalist at the turn of the century but has not gone beyond the quarters of the UK Championship since his first appearance in 1992, when he lost to John Parrott.

“Joe’s no easy customer. He’s been around for a long time, so it’s never an easy game,” Gould said afterwards.

“All in all, I was quite happy with how I hit the ball today and scored when I needed to.

“A couple of silly mistakes crept in but it’s the first round, you just want to ease yourself in. It’s a long tournament.”

Gould now faces world number 47 Robbie Williams in the second round.