Gould dismisses ‘favourite’ tag as he targets UK semi-finals

Martin Gould says there is no danger of him taking liberties when he faces world number 81 David Grace in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship on Friday.

Gould, the world number 24, beat Northern Irish veteran Joe Swail 6-3 to tee up Friday evening’s encounter at the York Barbican.

Outsider Grace has beaten Andrew Higginson, Robert Milkins, Jack Lisowski and former world champion Peter Ebdon on his way to the last eight.

Pinner Potter Gould, 34, has never previously been beyond the second round at the UK Championship,

He told West London Sport: “I don”t care about favourites. It’s all nonsense. You cannot take anyone lightly and I won’t be.

“David has played some really good stuff this week and no one would have expected him to get this far.

“It’s new territory for him. He is a lovely guy off the table I but I have have to forget all that, do what I have been doing and do another good job.

“We are all there on merit. If you play well you win. It’s not always the case, but most of the time it is.”