FORMER Worcestershire and England cricket star Basil d'Oliveira proved a good luck charm for Richard King at the Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship in Malvern last night.

D'Oliveira, a long-standing family friend, joined King's parents, John and Norma, to see the Bewdley player's first victory at the event since 1992.

They went to the Willie Thorne Snooker Club to lend moral support to the world number 146 who insisted on taking his place in the starting line-up despite the recent death of his grandfather.

And after his moment of success yesterday it will be a time of sadness today when he attends the funeral of 84-year-old Ernest Edwards who died recently.

"I really wanted to win for my grandfather and to get this victory after so many defeats, I think he must have been looking down on me," said King following his 5-1 success over Scot Kearney.

"I had a bad time at the qualifiers earlier this season so this was much better. But even when I was 4-0 up I still felt a bit shaky.

"So, I was delighted to get that last frame under my belt," added the 26-year-old.

King had considered withdrawing from the tournament, but decided to fulfil his Malvern engagement when the date of the funeral was set.

But he will return on Thursday for a third round match against Kidderminster-based Terry Murphy, the world number 30. "It will make a change to come back because my record here has been so poor over the years."

It's been an eventful time for King. Apart from practising for the B&H Snooker Championship, he's been working part-time at the George Hotel in flood-ravaged Bewdley.

"The hotel has escaped the worst of the floods, but it's certainly been busy. People forced out of their houses have been booking in there.

"But I've taken the rest of the month off to concentrate on my snooker. Apart from Malvern, I've got the UK Championship coming up in Bournemouth and I badly need to put some results together."

Other second round winners included IBSF world amateur championship semi-finalist Shaun Murphy. The 18-year-old from Irthlingborough, one of the game's young players of distinction, defeated Andrew Atkinson 5-1 with back to back breaks of 108 and 106.

Karl Burrows defeated Steve Russell 5-2, while 72-year-old Jack Fitzmaurice, the oldest player in professional snooker, suffered a 5-0 whitewash ag-ainst David McDonnell.