By Anand Philar
Hyderabad, Nov 25 (IANS) Admitting that he did not expect such a close battle in the final, Alfred Burden of England said winning the IBSF World Snooker championship by defeating Igor Figueiredo of Brazil 10-8, was a huge moment and would help him get back into professional ranks.

“I came here to win and then regain my professional status. Now, my goal will be to get into the top-32 bracket on the pro-tour,” said the 33-year old Londonner.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed and the victory today means a world to me. I am over the moon and dedicating this trophy to my dad and mom. It is great to put my name on the trophy along with the many famous names that are already there,” said Burden who was a top-32 player until recently and opted to play in this tournament the winner of which receives an entry into the pro-ticket competition.

Reflecting on the match, Burden admitted that his experience as a professional player helped him to pull through, but felt that he could have won quite comfortably had not Figueiredo enjoyed so much luck.

“I started playing well after 6-6 and should have wrapped up the match much earlier than I did. He had the roll of the ball in his favour. I have never before played an opponent who has been as lucky as he was today,” he opined.

On Figueiredo’s two comebacks from 0-3 to 3-3 and then 6-9 to 8-9, Burden said: “It is the worst feeling for any snooker player to see the opponent coming back. But my experience as a professional player in the past pulled me through.”

The 32-year old Figueiredo, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but now living in Germany and nicknamed to further his snooker career, admitted that he never expected to be playing in the final, much less win the trophy.

“I just wanted to play well in this tournament and never expected to be playing in the final, but it was a dream come true for me. Alfie today was very solid and I had some lapses in concentration that cost me the match,” he said.