Adrian Gunnell has upped his game since opting for a change of cue

Telford's Adrian Gunnell was 'gutted' at missing out on a place in the UK Championship after a 9-1 defeat to Matthew Stevens in his final qualifier.

"It's already forgotten," Gunnell told BBC Shropshire. "I'm gutted to miss the finals, as they're in my home town.

"But I'm heading in the right direction coming off the worst season I've had."

Monday's defeat cost Gunnell a first round meeting with world No 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan when the event gets underway in Telford on Monday (5 December).

And Gunnell says it is hard to look past 'The Rocket', four times previous winner of the UK Championship, when the tournament starts for real.

"If Ronnie turns up in the right mood, then he's certainly the man to beat," said Gunnell.

Gunnell is set to returns to action in the first week of January - in the qualifying rounds for the Malta Cup.

And, although he found form to beat Thailand's Atthasit Mahitthi 9-3 in his first qualifying match on Saturday, he knows he has to play better than he did against Stevens.

"I had the chances to make an impact," he admitted. "But, if you don't take them in that company, you'll get beaten."

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