After winning the European Title this year, Wheelchair Pool Player Fred Dinsmore is hoping to regain the World Title when he travels to the World Championships in Chinese Taipei at the end of the month.

The only problem is money. "Because its Paralympic year, the Irish Wheelchair Association has a limited amount of money, so we need to find €4,000 in the next few weeks. We'll have a monster raffle and that should raise half of that, but we would be delighted to hear from any company who would like to sponsor the rest" says Irish Wheelchair Pool Coach and Manager, Michael White.

As well as Dinsmore, the steadily improving Tom Hynes from Galway is also travelling to Taipei. His aim is to make the top ten.

9 Ball Pool which is played on a larger table than the eight ball game familiar to most Irish players, has become the cue sport of choice among wheelchair users.

"We used to play a lot more Snooker, but the table is a bit too high. With this game, the table is lower, so we dont need to adjust anything. For that reason it's really taiking off among Wheelchair users all over the World. It huge in the USA, China and Japan" says White.

Dinsmore started playing Snooker, but it was when he took up Pool he started to really shine and for the past six or so years, he has rarely been out of the top four at any International Tournament.

These days he has his own table in Rathfarham Snooker Club, sponsored also by Ger Dunphy Snooker and Pool. He has also got the necessary leave of absence from his employers Banking 365.

Dinsmore last won the World Title in 2000/01 and White feels he has a great chance to make it a European and World double this year.

"He's playing so well at the moment. He's sharp and full of confidence. I feel it is his time and he could make the double. He really is as good as anyone in the World". says White.