Gunnell setting his sights on Shanghai

Twice world snooker champion Mark Williams stands between Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell and a place in the final stages of the Shanghai Masters.

Telford's Gunnell begins his qualifying quest at Prestatyn tomorrow with a game against either Paul Davison or Mark Joyce.

And should he win that first encounter, Gunnell will meet Welsh wizard Williams - a former world No 1 who dropped out of the top 16 at the end of last season -Êfor a place in the Far East.

"I'd love to have a crack at Mark, especially at Prestatyn because it will be the first game he plays there and he won't be used to the conditions," said Gunnell, who is bidding to qualify for his fifth world ranking event in China in six attempts.

Gunnell , however, insists he is still short of his best form after a string of problems with tips.

"I'm getting there but I'm still not playing that great," he added.

"I've got through a lot of tips in the last month and it has been so frustrating.

"They are just so inconsistent. You take two from the same box and one is like a sponge and the other one like a bullet."