Brave Bewdley snooker professional Richard King has decided to take his place in the Benson & Hedges Snooker Championship starting line-up despite the recent death of his grandfather.

King plays his first match in the prestigious tournament at the Willie Thorne Snooker Club in Malvern on Monday.

Just 24 hours later he will attend the funeral of 84-year-old Ernest Edwards, who died last Friday.

"We were very close and it's been hard just lately to concentrate on practising," said the 26-year-old Worcestershire cue man.

"In fact, I first started playing snooker on a miniature table at my grandad's house when I was about four or five.

"He used to come and watch me play when I was younger but in recent years he hasn't been well enough.

"I've spent a lot of time in the last few weeks at the nursing home where he lived and I'm just hoping by thinking about him, it will inspire me to do well in Malvern.

"I considered withdrawing from the tournament but in the end I decided I would only have done that if the funeral had been on the same day as my match".

King plays little-known Scot Kearney in his opening game, looking to improve upon his results from earlier in the season.

The Bewdley hopeful failed to win a match at the qualifiers in Newport back in September but believes he's now due a change of fortune.

"My confidence isn't 100 per cent but my form in practice gives me reason for optimism," he added. "I'm not going to make any wild predictions because I haven't got the best of records in the B&H.

"But hopefully if I can beat Scot it will be the start of a good run. We've only played once before and I beat him 4-1 on the UK Tour a few years ago."

If world number 146 King can come through his first two games there's a chance of a fourth round meeting with Kidderminster-based Terry Murphy, an occasional practice partner.

The B&H Snooker Championship also provides a chance for valuable match practice ahead of the UK Championship in Bournemouth.

For that event, King has taken time off work from his job as a par-time barman at the George Hotel in Bewdley to ensure he's 100 per cent focussed.

"They've been very good in allowing me to take the time off but I know they'll be expecting me to put in the hours later with Christmas coming up."

Worcester based Maureen McCarthy is in action on day one of the tournament this Sunday. The Northern Ireland-born player will hope to avoid a repeat of her misfortune the 1998 event against Mike Dunn when she potted just two balls in a 5-0 defeat.

It didn't get much better for McCarthy 12 months later when she had to pull out of the competition because of illness.

The 2000 B&H Snooker Championship winner will collect a £5,000 prize at the end of the final on Thursday, November 16. The champion will also earn a wild card invite to the B&H Masters at Wembley next February.

Admission to the tournament is free and further information can be obtained from the Willie Thorne Snooker Club on 01684 892147.