NEWBRIDGE snooker pro Lee Walker has continued his progress at the Yushan World Open after his shock victory over world champion Mark Selby.

The 41-year-old hadn’t won a match in the final stages of an event this season, but he produced solid matchplay snooker to beat world number one Selby 5-2 in China yesterday.

Selby is yet to hit top form this season, following a toe injury suffered in May and he was deservedly beaten by the world number 69.

“He didn’t play his best snooker, but when he does not many people can beat him so I’m over the moon to be through,” said Walker.

“You don’t want to draw the bigger players, but when you do have to face them you can relax a bit.

“I obviously felt pressure at the end, because it is a great win. However, you can settle a bit because nobody expects you to win.”

Walker, a former Crucible quarter-finalist, followed up his win with another 5-2 victory over Gloucester’s Robert Milkins today.

Explaining his recent upturn in form, he paid tribute to his new coach for giving him a new lease of life.

“Over the last 18 months I’ve been working with Stephen Feeney of SightRight and it is by far the best coaching method I’ve ever seen in all of the years that I’ve been playing,” he said.

“The best way I can describe it is that he’s made me feel like a player again.

“I dropped off the tour and never thought I’d be in the position to be playing these guys again so when I go out there and play on the big occasion in front of the cameras rather than fold under it I really enjoy it.”

And with 46-year-old Anthony Hamilton and 43-year-old Mark King both winning their first ranking events last season, Walker is optimistic about his prospects.

“Guys like Anthony and Mark are showing that age is no barrier,” he said.

“After all the knocks that they’ve had they’ve come back and won tournaments so that’s an inspiration to everybody I think.

“You come into a tournament hoping to go as far as you can and hoping to win it.

“There are a lot of very good players in these tournaments, which makes it very difficult, but if you turn up and play well for the week then certainly you have a chance.”