POOL: Terrific Tommy runner up in the World Masters

TOMMY Morrow has made a stunning impact on the world pool stage after he finished runner-up in the final of the World Masters in Blackpool.

The Dervock supremo had a fantastic tournament, losing to twice world champion, England's Mick Hill, 10-4 in the showpiece final.

And immensely talented 22-year-old says he would now love to turn professional but would need considerable financial backing to make that dream a reality.

Tommy had to play eight intense rounds to reach the final and made a stunning start by knocking out the twice former world champion, England's Carl Morris 7-6 in the preliminary round.

"It was the biggest win of my career," Tommy told Times Sport.

Tommy followed that up with a devastating 8-1 defeat of the 2007 Masters champion, England's Ian Kettel, in the last 16, missing just one ball in the nine frames.

And he threatened a major upset in the final as he trailed by only two at 6-4. But Hill, nicknamed 'The Machine' won four in a row to complete victory.

Tommy told Times Sport: "I only had one shot in the first three games and was down 3-0.

"I got it back to 3-3 with a couple of break and finishes and an eight ball clearance off his break.

"The score went to 6-4. In frame 11 I was on a finish, I took my third last red into the middle pocket off his yellow but his yellow went down the cushion into the top pocket. He had two shots and cleared up.

"I didn't get many chances after that due to him breaking and finishing and me not potting off my breaks.

"With a better run of the balls I would have definitely pushed him closer.

"Mick Hill is regarded as probably the most gifted pool player ever and has won every major title, including two World Championships and two Masters titles.

"I didn't expect to get that far but I beat three or four professionals along the way and there were 380 entries from 14 countries."

Tommy, who plays for the Sperrin Club in the Coleraine Tennents Pool League, has won a clutch of honours in the game and was a losing finalist in the Under-18 World Singles in the past.

He has won the Northern Ireland singles titles at under-16, under-18 and under-21 level and has twice been the Coleraine 147 Singles champion.

Tommy would love to join the professional IPA Tour in England next year but added: "I definitely would need sponsorship for entry fees etc but I know I could play at that level."

RESULTS: Preliminary round: Morrow 7, Carl Morris 6; R1, Morrow 7, Dave Coakley 4; R2, Morrow 7, Alan Scott (Scot) 1; R3, Morrow 7, Paul Hancock (Aus) 2; Last 32, Morrow 7, Steve Kane 5; Last 16, Morrow 8, Ian Kettel (Eng)1; Quarter-final, Morrow 8, Simon Ward (Wales) 6; Semi-final, Morrow 9, Gavin Lomax 4; Final: Morrow 4, Mick Hill (Eng) 10.