Bond looking for boost

The 1995 world championship runner-up has not made it past the last 32 of a tournament so far this season and has dropped to 25 in the provisional world rankings.

"Obviously, he's defending champion and it will be a difficult game. But I'm looking forward to going out there again," Bond told the Matlock Mercury.

"It's a good venue, a great hotel, everything is really, really well run and we're really well looked after out there.

"I just hope the weather is not as atrocious as it was last year."

The Denby Dale cueman also had sympathy for Jimmy White who hasn't reached the televised stages after losing to Andrew Higginson in qualifying.

"Jimmy has not won a qualifier this season and he hasn't made a venue, having dropped out of the the top 32. He's finding it difficult in the qualifiers. It's all new to him," he commented.

"He's been used to the big arenas and all of a sudden you're playing in booths in Prestatyn and there's not many people watching, and he's struggling to get through."