HAWKE'S BAY snooker player Dave Judd was talking big on the eve of today's start to the Hawke's Bay Masters tournament at the Havelock North Club.
"I want to make the top two," Judd said as he pondered the Everfresh Transport-sponsored handicap event which has attracted 64 players from around the country. It's a big call when one considers Hawke's Bay cue sports king and New Zealand No 1 Bayden Jackson is the top seed.
"It's my last tournament before going to the world championships in Doha later this month and I want a polished rehearsal," Judd, 50, explained.
A New Zealand representative at Oceania Championship level for the past four years and at the 2014 world championships in India, Judd, fellow Bay player Paul Temple and Wellingtonian Peter Leslie will be the three Kiwis reps in the masters division which caters for players over 40 in Doha. The Kiwi contingent will also include three open men's division players, an open women's division player and four referees at the November 18-30 tournament.
"At my last world champs I played in the open men's division. The aim was to get a feel of that level and win some frames which I did. I was up against players aged 14 to 25 with young eyes and no fear.