Joe Swail is ranked number 20 in the world

Joe Swail says he is looking forward to returning to action in the Northern Ireland Trophy in Belfast in August.

Swail ended last season with a narrow 13-12 defeat by Liang Wenbo in the world championship, missing a key final frame brown with victory at his mercy.

"It's taken me quite a while to get over that match, and the new season can't come quickly enough for me so I can forget about it," said Swail.

"I didn't play well last season but my game was coming together at Sheffield."

"If I had won that game, who knows what could have happened. That's why I was so disappointed.

"I was proud of the way I came back from 12-8 to 12-12, I gave it my best shot but it was such a sickener to lose.

"In a way I wish I had lost 13-8, that would have been easier to take.

"I was so close to getting into the top 16 so if I play well this year I could definitely achieve that.

"I'm starting the new season with a clean slate, a new attitude and a new cue, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The Belfast player added that "there is no better way to start a season than with my home tournament".

"All the players love the Waterfront Hall as a venue and we get great support there, especially last year when Mark Allen got to the semi-finals," said the 38-year-old.

The Northern Ireland Trophy, which was won by Scotland's Stephen Maguire last year, runs from Sunday 24 August to Sunday 31 August.