Ali Carter (photo) became the new Welsh Open champion on Sunday night after defeating Joe Swail 9-5 in the final in Newport.

Carter admitted that his decision to become a professional pilot proved to be the turning point in his snooker career.

For the player, nicknamed the Captain, it was the first ranking title of his 13-year professional career.

Success had been a long time coming for Carter, who appeared in the semi-finals of the 1999 Grand Prix but then went eight years without reaching the same stage of a ranking tournament.

“A few years ago my career was in the balance, so I decided to take up flying because I couldn’t see myself making it as a snooker player,” said the 29-year-old from Tiptree in Essex. “I got my professional pilot’s licence and that took the pressure off my snooker.

“After that I started playing really well because I knew I had something to fall back on. I’ve put the flying to one side now, but it’s nice to know that I can go back to it if I need to.”

Carter’s career was also affected by Chron’s disease, which he described as “horrendous” in its early stages. “I was just pleased to come through it still breathing,” he said. “I’ve still got it but it’s under control now.”

In the final, Carter came from 5-2 down to win seven consecutive frames with a tremendous burst of break-building. “I put myself under a lot of pressure in the first session because I wanted to play well,” he said. “In the evening session I forgot about that and just focussed on the balls.

“It’s a massive achievement and I hope there’s more to come. It means everything to me, it’s what I’ve been practising for since I was a kid. It’s all about winning, to be able to go home and say no one has beaten you.”

Looking ahead to the World Snooker Championship, in which he was runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan last season, Carter added: “Ronnie is the man to beat and I’ve never beaten him, so it would be nice to do that in the final this year.”

Belfast’s Swail, aged 39, was aiming to become the oldest first time winner of a ranking title since Doug Mountjoy in 1988, but had little answer to his opponent in the concluding stages.

“Ali came out all guns blazing, the chances I got you could count on one hand,” said Swail after the first ranking final of his 18-year professional career. “When I did get a chance I’d had no table time so I was cold. On paper it looks as if I collapsed, but there wasn’t much I could do.”