David Morris

At the 2014 UK Championship in York, Morris knocked out Mark Selby on his way to the last 16. “I’m delighted to win and to beat someone of Mark’s class is a big feather in my cap,” he said. “To play well in front of a packed audience and on a TV table is a big thing for me.” He was denied a quarter-final place by Stephen Maguire.

At the 2013 Wuxi Classic, Morris enjoyed a superb run to the quarter-finals. He won four matches – including a 5-4 defeat of Ali Carter – before his run was ended by Matthew Stevens.

Morris is considered one of the Republic of Ireland’s brightest prospects since his friend and practice partner Ken Doherty burst on to the scene.

In an exceptional junior career, his honours included being RIBSA champion at six different age levels from under-14 to under-21 and becoming the only player to win the All Ireland Senior Championship three consecutive times (2004-06). His first triumph in that event made him the youngest Irish champion in history.

In finishing top of the Irish rankings in 2006 he qualified for a place on the pro Tour for the first time.

Morris, who believes his key strengths are potting and break-building, grew up in a house in Kilkenny numbered 147. He enjoys travelling and spent a year living in California.

However he was relegated from the pro tour at the end of the 2015/16 season.