SHEFFIELD’S Crucible Theatre is calling for Darren Morgan later this summer after the veteran Gwent potter won his 10th European masters crown in Belgrade with a 4-2 victory over Ukraine’s Alan Trigg.

Serbia proved to be a happy hunting ground for Morgan, and younger brother Wayne, as they joined forces to win the masters team event, beating English pair Wayne Brown and Chris Hart in the final.

Darren’s victory in the individual tournament – his fifth in a row – gave him a wildcard for the World Seniors Championship, which takes place at the home of snooker in August.

The 53-year-old amateur from Newbridge last played at the Crucible in 2000 when he was still a professional, losing 10-3 to Ken Doherty in the first round of the World Championship.

He is a previous winner of the competition, now back in the hands of the WPBSA after two years with Snooker Legends, having beaten the legendary Steve Davis in Peterborough in 2011.

The left-hander also reached the final at Preston’s Guild Hall five years later, before losing to Mark Davis.

While Morgan returns to the Crucible after 19 years away, it won’t be quite as he remembers, with the set-up not the same as it is for the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump every spring.

“I never thought I’d play at the Crucible again,” he said. “I won the tournament in 2011 and lost the final in 2016, but it wasn’t at the Crucible then.

“It won’t be as I remember because the set-up is different, but it will be nice to go back and sample that atmosphere one more time.

“You’ll have Stephen Hendry and John Parrott playing in the championship, and guys like Ken Doherty, Jimmy White and James Wattana, who are still playing on the main tour.

“There’s £25,000 on offer to the winner, so that would be a nice payday, and if I play how I know I can then there’s every chance I can go all the way.”

Going back to Belgrade, Morgan was particularly pleased to land a seventh masters team title, and to do it with his brother made the achievement even more special.

The Welsh pair looked to be heading home in the semi-finals before pulling through against Belgium, then they edged past Brown and Hart to lift the trophy in an emotional moment for the brothers.

“Last year I said I wouldn’t play in any more team competitions, but having lost my brother Roger to ill health a few months ago, and Wayne finishing second behind me in the Welsh masters rankings, I felt it would be fitting to play,” added Morgan.

“Wayne asked me if I’d be interested and we said we’d do it for Roger. We weren’t expected to win it, but we desperately wanted to do it for Roger, and if he was looking down on us then he would be extremely proud.

“I was extremely proud, not just playing for Wales, but in memory of Roger, who I think must have given us a little bit of help, especially in the semi-final.”

Since returning to the amateur game, Morgan has amassed an incredible 29 event victories while representing Wales, with the possibility of more to come in Myanmar and Turkey later this year.