POOL: Radcliffe's Karl Boyes won the WPA Etisalat World 8-Ball Championship lastweekend in Fujairah.

He beat Holland’s Niels Feijen 13-12 in a nail-biting final.

Boyes won seven racks as he raced to a convincing 11-4 lead.

But when Boyes went in-off on the break in the 16th game, Feijen took full advantage of the winner breaks format and returned the favour. He won five racks so next time Boyes was at the table he was only 11-9 in front.

He won the next to need just one rack but Feijen hit back again and levelled the score at 12-12 and it was his break.

Fortunately for Boyes, Feijen’s run of form dried up and Boyes potted his way into the history books.

“I don’t know how I managed to knock the finish in in the final frame because I was struggling to walk! My legs were like jelly!

“If I’d have lost from so far in front I don’t know if I could have played again!” he laughed.

In 2007, Boyes enjoyed an almost dream debut; he reached the semi-finals of the World 9 Ball Championship, despite being a rank outsider after winning a qualifier in Holland.

However he almost quit the sport last year.

“I was disillusioned after doing so well in the Worlds in 2007,” he said. “I didn’t seem to get invites into the big events and the ones I could play in were so expensive to fund so I went to college and did plastering.”

However, Dave Carter, who runs The Lettings Co in Leicester, offered to manage him just after finishing the course.

“It gave me the boost I needed and I focused totally on winning a major event,” he added. “I knew I was capable – I’m just so glad I’ve done it!”

He has even been in the gym almost everyday with friend and personal trainer Tony Mays and stopped eating stodge and has lost a total of five stones in weight.

“It has really helped me – I feel great and it has given me discipline and it’s made me mentally and physically stronger in matches, too.”

He was part of the GB squad who won the World Team Championships in February.

Boyes is the second World Champ in his household – his girlfriend was World 8 Ball Champ in 2008 (English Pool).