HOT potter Dave Arnold is making swift inroads into pool after embarking on the prestigious Embassy International tour two years ago.

After starting with a 170th ranking, the Kidderminster cue king reached the top 64 in his first year, number 34 for 2001 and is now on the verge of the best 16.

And Arnold, 29, recently achieved a first for a county player by winning his way through to a grand final in a tour event at Wembley.

He lost to Dudley's Mick Hill, the current number one, over the best of 15 frames.

Arnold had knocked out a string of stars including Northern Ireland skipper Ronan McCarthy, ranked number four.

Arnold, who was a county snooker champion four years ago, said: "I've done well, My main objective was to get into the top 64 but I did that in the first year and now I'm looking towards the top eight.

"It's a really good standard and you don't get an easy match at all. I hope to play for England if I can keep getting results like the last one."

Arnold has four more contests this year at Warwick, Blackpool, Coventry and Bradford.

He added: "I thought there was more chance of winning something at pool than snooker.

"There are so many good young snooker players, like Kidderminster's Lee Page, knocking in regular ton breaks."

Anyone who can help with sponsorship can call Dave on 07980 190878.