SNOOKER star Ross Muir was delighted to have secured his place in the European Masters with victory over a ranking-event winner.

The Musselburgh ace beat Martin Gould 4-2 to secure his place at the European competition, in Belgium later this year.

Muir told Courier Sport: "I was very pleased with how I played – it was a very professional performance.

"Martin is one of the best players in the world and he's won a ranking event so to come through was really pleasing."

And the former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil is now preparing himself for a "pretty full on" schedule that will see him compete in tournaments all over the world.

"The calendar is pretty busy between now and December 23," he said.

That all starts this week, with the 22-year-old due to place in the Paul Hunter Classic in Furth, near Nuremburg in Germany tomorrow (Friday).

He is looking forward to a "pretty special" tournament, which was named after three-time Masters champion Hunter who died 12 years ago.

Muir added: "Everyone there is so passionate about snooker, so it is a lot of fun to play in.

"It's different to other tournaments."

Ahead of his match, Muir admitted to Courier Sport he's no idea who he will come up against, adding: "I've got to a level where I don't really pay attention to whose name is on the other scoreboard.

"That's all it is, really – I've just to concentrate on my own game."

And the Honest Toun ace is also focusing on the "long-term goals" of becoming world number one and winning a world title, while continuing to improve his game on a daily basis.

"I just keep working hard to make my game better," he said.

Muir added: "It's not all about results – my game is getting better and so are the results – but climbing up the rankings and becoming world champion is the childhood dream.

"That is what I want to do in the long-run."