DROITWICH snooker star Ian Hurdman has qualified for the main professional snooker circuit next season.

In the four-event challenge tour, the 28-year-old finished in ninth place from 433 entrants.

He reached the quarter-finals in the first event last year, and the last 16 recently of the final tournament to clinch his place.

Hurdman also qualified for the first round proper of this season's World Championship, but lost 10-6 to Canada's Bob Chaperon, the former British Open Champion.

His best ever performance as a pro was at the Embassy in 1996 when he reached the last 128.

Hurdman, a former Midlands junior champion, practices at Pockets Snooker Club in Kidderminster, where this season's English finals are being staged on May 12 and 13.

Qualifying for 2001/2002 starts in late July in Newport, South Wales.

Hurdman will feature in all ten major events.