Fenland Potter Perry is in the UK Championship quarter-finals

The Wisbech cueman didn’t get past the third round in the first four tournaments of the season, organised in World Snooker’s COVID-secure bubble in Milton Keynes.

Perry, one of the more sociable players on the circuit, says he’s no longer fretting about the lack of player’s lounge chat and it paid off at Triple Crown level with a 6-3 last 16 win over Jamie Jones.

“I always practice hard, but I’ve practiced harder and my practice has been better,” said the 46-year-old.

“I think the upturn in form is more to do with the fact that I’ve stopped moaning about the fact I’ve stopped enjoying myself, moaning that I couldn’t spent time with my mates.

“I used to like having a chat at breakfast and have a giggle with the boys. I can’t do that, so I’m turning up, playing and going home which isn’t what I’ve ever done in my whole career.

“I was probably feeling sorry for myself and putting bad results down to the fact that I wasn’t enjoying my snooker.

“If I’ve changed anything, I’ve changed my mindset to being professional and getting on with what I’ve got to do.

“It’s all about me enjoying my snooker. I’ve spent a few months struggling with it, really, but I’ve made a real conscious effort to start enjoying it. Winning certainly helps.”

Perry battled his way past the Welshman in an attritional contest in which no frame was one by either player in a single visit apart from the last.

The pair traded jabs in the first session, Perry peeling off back-to-back half-century breaks only to find Jones equal to him at 2-2.

The crucial frame was the sixth, when Perry reeled off a 58 break and Jones struggled to settle.

Perry won the final four frames of a game that looked like it would go the distance to set up a quarter-final tie with either Lu Ning or Pang Junxu.

Perry has managed to avoid big names like Mark Selby, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson in the last eight, but is expecting a tough challenge from whichever Chinese he faces.

“On paper, I’ll be favourite but I’ve seen the two of them play this week and you can’t fail to be impressed,” said Perry.

“The draw has opened up, there’s no getting away from it, but you’ve still got to beat those players.

“Sometimes draws look good, but it doesn’t mean there’s an easy game and it never feels easy when you’re out there.”

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