In 2003, Adrian Gunnell hit three maximum 147 breaks in four frames

Telford's Adrian Gunnell will play in the UK Championship qualifiers in his home town this week boosted by praise from reigning champion Shaun Murphy.

"Adrian's a nice fellow," Murphy told BBC Radio Shropshire ahead of Gunnell's two-session qualifier on Saturday against Thailand's Atthasit Mahitthi.

"He helped me as a junior in pro-ams. He was the pro, I was the young kid and, by watching him, I learnt a lot.

"I'm sure he'll have a lot of fans rooting for him at Telford."

Murphy added: "It's probably the hardest match he could have. But, as we've seen before, surprises do happen."

If makes it through his third qualifying round game, world number 42 Gunnell would then be up against Matthew Stevens on Monday.

And that would carry with it the big prize of a meeting with world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan when this year's UK Championship starts for real at the Telford International Centre on Saturday week (5 December).

Last season I was so low on confidence I went into games believing I'd lose. I'd started to look at alternative careers Adrian Gunnell

Gunnell has mixed memories of this event.

While practising for this tournament in 2003, he pulled off the remarkable feat of compiling three 147 breaks in four frames. And he qualified when the UK Championship first came to Telford in 2007.

But, after losing in the qualifiers last year, he admits that he even considered quitting the game.

And he has pinpointed a new cue as the cause of this season's upturn in form.

"Last season I was so low on confidence I went into games believing I'd lose," Gunnell told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I'd started to look at alternative careers.

"I was missing balls so badly I thought it must be my eyesight, and I even booked in for laser surgery.

Shaun Murphy is defending his UK snooker title in Telford

"I thought I was finished. But then I picked up a new cue, and it's made all the difference. I feel better in my game than I have for five years."

"I'm not going to kid myself that I'm back where I was just because I'm playing really well in practice. It's matches that count.

"But I couldn't be happier with how I'm playing, I'm so positive with my own game.

"Whether it happens now or six months down the line, I know its going to happen again. And I do think now I can get higher in the rankings than I've ever done."

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