DARREN Morgan will be back mixing it with snooker’s big guns for the first time in a decade after earning an invite to the Kaspersky Riga Masters thanks a shock European Open victory.

The 50-year-old from Newbridge will take part in the tournament in Latvia next week alongside Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Stuart Bingham and Judd Trump after upsetting the odds in Lithuania last week.

Morgan did a double in a remarkable week in Vilnius, retaining the EBSA Masters Snooker Championship and winning the EBSA European Open.

“I went out to play in the Open with the intention of getting some practice in for the Masters,” said Morgan, who have won a host of trophies since dropping back down to the amateur ranks from the professional tour in 2006.

“It was with younger players from all over Europe and I didn’t think for one minute I’d win it but the unthinkable happened and I did!

“After winning it I had an email from World Snooker asking if I wanted to play in Latvia. I ummed and ahed for a while then thought ‘why not?’”

In his pomp the 1994 World Championship semi-finalist was putting at least six hours a day on the baize but now his practice is “non-existent, 20 minutes here and there”.

But Morgan, who owns the Red Triangle snooker club in Cross Keys, is dreaming of upsetting the odds again after showing good form in Lithuania with breaks of 132, 135 and a 122 when he missed the green on a potential 147.

He said: “It’s my first ranking event since 2006 and you never know what will happen. I don’t expect to go there and win the silverware but it’s best-of-seven and you have to be in it to win it.

“If I get knocked out on the first day then it will still be good to catch-up with some old faces but it would be fantastic if I got on a roll – when I play well I am still good enough to beat anyone.”

Morgan’s first game is on Wednesday against England’s Bradley Jones.