The 24-year-old left-hander became the first Australian to win a ranking tournament by beating Stoke potter Jamie Cope 9-5 in the final.

"Hopefully this is the start of many tournament wins for me. I just want to win, play in these big arenas and in front of big crowds. It' s been the best week of my life," said the Melbourne cueman.

Cope, nicknamed the Shotgun for his rapid and attacking style of play, had never previously been beyond the last 16 of a ranking event, but highlighted his potential on a major stage.

The 21-year-old has jumped a dozen places to 14th and has set his sights on a place in the top eight next season.

Alan McManus had slipped to 52nd place after a poor 2005/06 season, but has leapt back to 36th by reaching the semi-finals. Mark King also lost in the last four and is up eight places to 16th.

Irishman Ken Doherty still tops the list despite losing in the last 16, though second-placed John Higgins closed the gap through reaching the quarter-finals.

Thailand's Issara Kachaiwong, in his debut season, was narrowly edged out of the group phase by Higgins and McManus, but is up 11 places to 70th.

James Wattana holds down 23rd place, but nearer the top Ronnie O'Sullivan slips to eighth and world No 1 Stephen Hendry to 11th. China's Ding Junhui is up to fourth with five events still to count before next season's rankings positions are finalised.

John Dee

The Nation

London