They say pro Snooker tournaments are like buses now. But for Ryan Day winning them is exactly that.
Since turning pro in 1998, it took him some nine years (2007) to reach his first ranking final, and then he reached two more before it was another ten years before another in 2017 at the World Grand Prix.
Day, 37, has finally hit the jackpot in 2018 with wins in Riga, Gibraltar and now the Romanian Masters in Bucharest. A sterling season for the man from Pontycymer.
Although the Romanian Masters isn't a ranking event, the win has secured Day as one of the best in the game.
Another force to be reckoned with at the World Championships in April - assuming he gets there either by qualifying or automatically being in the draw in the top 16.
Indeed, Day no less beat a World Champion in the final of the Romanian Masters in Bucharest in Stuart Bingham, and was even 4 - 0 down in the first session. True Champions endure, and Day did certainly that as it was nip and tuck with Bingham all the way until he clinched a black ball frame in the 18th frame to win the title 10 - 8 and win the trophy and the 44K first prize.
This season, three Welshmen have won seven titles between them. Day has won three with two ranking titles and one non-ranking title. Mark Williams has won three titles, two ranking in Germany and Northern Ireland and also the Six Reds World title.
And, Lightning Michael White has won the Paul Hunter Classic in Furth, Germany.
No time to dwell
In professional snooker now, there's No Time to dwell on either your losses or successes as tournaments come and go. And this week Day heads off to Wales, Llandudno for the Players Championship where there is an even bigger prize for the winner - namely 125K.
Day faces another tough first round draw in the form of three-times World Champion Mark Selby, but having just beaten a World Champion in a final best of 19, Day will be brimming with confidence. The Welshman's earnings this season have skyrocketed to £249,900 - a career high for the World number 17.
Another push in the Players Championship and Day could well jump back into the top 16 before the close of the China Open.
Second time pressure
For other one-time ranking event winners, winning a second title has proved harder. The likes of Kyren Wilson have been close to winning a string of titles this season, but fell short to Ding Junhui in the World Open and also lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the English Open. Wilson also lost out to Mark Allen in the elite Masters back in January.
Martin Gould is also another who has struggled to push on from winning in Germany a couple of years ago.
The older guard of Mark King and Anthony Hamilton have also found it tough since winning their first piece of ranking silverware in Northern Ireland and Germany. These just outline how difficult it has become now to win on the pro tour as there is quality in numbers.
The Players Championship this week begins on the 19th and ends on the 25th and is on TV.
Watch it on ITV4.
