Snooker: David Gilbert beats Gerard Greene in UK Champs, faces Marco Fu next

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DAVID Gilbert knows his victory over Gerard Greene at the UK Snooker Championship on Saturday night was far from pretty but believes the grit he displayed bodes well for the rest of the tournament.

The Derby potter had cruised through his first-round match with Jason Weston 6-1 earlier in the week but found Greene much trickier in round two at York's Barbican Centre.

There was never more than two frames between the pair but after a marathon 76-minute decider, Gilbert emerged as a 6-5 winner.

The 34-year-old made a high break of 70, while Greene's was only 60, in an undeniably scrappy encounter.

But Gilbert says the most important thing was to secure progression to the last 32.

"If I'd been on the receiving end it wouldn't have been very pretty but it's probably the best, worst game I've ever won, so I'm really happy," said Gilbert.

"Obviously, I didn't play very well and really struggled with the conditions but I was lucky in the end.

"It was just a case of trying hard. Neither of us could really pot many balls near the end. I think we just really struggled with how the table played.

"I'm just happy to get out of the sports hall, anyone who plays at the back there knows how tough it is, you've just got to get through.

"Sometimes (world number one) Mark Selby and those guys win ugly and it's about staying in and I'm still in, so I'm delighted."

Next up for Gilbert in the last 32 is world number 14 and two-time ranking event winner Marco Fu.

The pair met at the International Championship in Daqing last month, when Gilbert won 6-5 before going on to reach the first ranking event final of his career.

He is now up to number 21 in the world himself but is under no illusions at the size of the task against the experienced Fu.

"I'm looking forward to playing Marco," he said.

"I played him in China in the last event and it was a really good game but I'll have to play a hell of a lot better to beat him again.

"I've had a nice comfortable one and I've had an absolute grueller in this tournament so, hopefully, we can have a nice comfortable win next game but it'll be totally different I'm sure."

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