ON TOP of the world - that's exactly where Basingstoke's Amanda Watson is after she clinched the World Pool Association World Blackball Championship crown.

The 37-year-old, from Abbey Road, Popley, had to win six games to take her first-ever world title - going one better than her runner-up spot at Bridlington two years ago.

The jubilant winner said: "I felt I was in with a chance of winning the title, but that still does not take away the feeling of making it happen and I am really thrilled."

Watson, who also won the European crown in 1999, took the title in Cork with a 6-3 victory over Scotland's Shona Harper.

Having raced to a 2-0 advantage, Watson found herself pegged back to 2-2, but after each player took another frame, the north Hampshire potting ace powered away to victory.

Talking about the final, she said: "I always felt in control of the match and once I got to a 5-3 lead, the pressure was all on her."

If the game to take the title was relatively straightforward, the semi-final was a different story altogether.

It had looked like Watson's hopes of the crown were fading fast as she trailed 3-0 to top South African player Nuraan Jedaar.

That became 4-1, but from there the Basingstoke hot shot stormed back to square the match at 4-4.

Once again, the South African took the initiative to lead 5-4, leaving Watson needing to win the final two frames to keep her chances alive.

With the first one under her belt, Jedaar looked set to clinch the match but went in off the black and Watson seized her chance to clear up and went on to win.

Talking about her semi-final victory, Watson said: "That was the match of the tournament for me and was full of pressure.

"Every shot in the final clear-up was not easy, as they were on the rails, but potting and positional play is the strong point of my game and it saw me through."

Watson, who trains with Mike Piper at the Academy Club in the town, as well as putting in hours of practice on her own home table, now intends to defend her crown next year when the Championships are set to be held in Germany.

As well as taking individual glory in Cork, Watson also helped England to the runners-up spot in the team event, where they were beaten 13-5 by Scotland.

There was no rest for the new world champion as she was back in action last weekend, finishing as the runner-up in the British Association of Pool Table Operators Ladies Singles - being beaten by England international Sarah Trudgett.