Paul Drinkhall captures Under-21 China Open

PAUL Drinkhall has captured victory at the Under-21 China Open - the best win of his career to date.

HOT SHOT: Paul Drinkhall continues his rapid progress as he captures the Under-21 China Open

The 19-year-old, who swept the junior honours board - picking up three European titles - is currently competing in his first season in the senior rankings.

Drinkhall has enjoyed a baptism of fire, having come within a whisker of defeating world nuber 21 Zoran Primorac of Croatia at the World Championships in Japan.

He then returned to home soil to take part in the Dunlop Masters, an exhibition event at the Royal Albert Hall, where he claimed the scalp of former world champion Jorgen Persson.

And having overcome Chinese Taipei's Hugh-Chieh Chiang 4-3 in the final, he was immediately snapped up by Chinese League First Division side Fujin - another feather in the cap of the London 2012 hopeful.  

 I didn't start too well but the further I got the more confident I got. I've had some good wins recently but this tops the lot. To win a title like this in the world's top event is brilliant," he said.

Coach Steen Hansen added: "Paul has been threatening to win one of the world top events for some time and this win will have given his confidence a real boost. And now to be playing in the Chinese League among the world top players just shows how much the Chinese players admire him."