Another challenge for Jimmy

The 17-year-old, pictured, suffered a second round exit to 51st ranked Troy Shaw in the fourth and final order of merit event at Prestatyn, north Wales, which ended his hopes of a top 16 finish overall.

His 35th position though ensures that he will at least retain his spot on the sport's second tier when some famous names slipped through the net by failing to make the top 60 cut off.

"His first aim was to stay on the Challenge Tour," outlined father Brian. "If you come off the Challenge Tour it is very difficult to get a second chance. But I'm disappointed that he didn't make it (the top 16). He really should have done. He only needed to win another two or three matches and he lost (4-2) to a player (Shaw) I would have expected him to beat. But this was his best chance because the 48 players coming off the main (LG Electronics) tour are as good as anyone."

The relegation of 48 players from the top tier sees the numbers drop at that level from 128 to 96 which, over the course of the next couple of years, could even fall as low as 64 making it even tougher to break into the elite.

Brian continued: "It's not a disaster: a disaster would have been falling off the Challenge Tour. I think he could do with another season's worth of experience on the Challenge Tour but he knows it's a make or break season next season. He's got everything there but so have another few hundred people around the country."

The crunch campaign gets under way in September but more immediately, Jimmy is to recharge the batteries by enjoying a month away from the game for the first time in his career.