SNOOKER star Ian McCulloch will make his Masters debut at Wembley in January after being awarded a wild card.
The world number 16, who practices at Potters Snooker Club in Great Harwood, missed out on an automatic place because world champion Shaun Murphy is seeded second for the event, despite being ranked 21 in the world.
"I'm delighted because Wembley is one of the venues that everyone wants to play at," said McCulloch, 34.
The Masters takes place from 15-22 January at Wembley Conference Centre and will be televised by the BBC.
Last season McCulloch enjoyed the best campaign of his career, reaching the final of the Grand Prix and the semi-finals of the World Championship and climbing to world number 16.
Meanwhile, Lancashire interest in the Travis Perkins UK Championship in Prestatyn has ended after Accrington duo Shokat Ali and Chris Norbury were both knocked out in the second round.
Ali was beaten 9-3 by Leicester's Joe Jogia, while Norbury went down 9-4 to Paul Wykes.
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