MARK KING admits he is welcoming a rare six-week break from competitive snooker with open arms, but he is adamant he'll be firing on all cylinders when he returns for the season finale.
The 38-year-old qualified for last week's Welsh Open with a routine win over India's Aditya Mehta, but fell in the first round of the competition proper in Newport to Ding Junhui.
King has since enjoyed a week off but has returned to the practice tables ahead of the China Open in over five weeks' time.
He will face Mark Selby in round one in Beijing on March 27, followed shortly by the qualifiers for the World Championships, the last event of the season.
With time to alter his cue and work on his technique, Chelmsford-based King has vowed to do all he can to ensure he ends a mixed season so far on a positive note.
"I wouldn't say I'm happy with my season," said King, "but I'm not unhappy with it. Hopefully I can finish it on a high.
"I have Mark in China and that is really tough, but when you get to the World Championships, they are all really tough and every player is at the top of their game.
"I have been playing non-stop since May and to be able to take a week off is nice. Once the Worlds finish, we start again soon after so there is no real cut off."
King has claimed some high-profile scalps this year – beating world number eight Junhui at the Shanghai Masters and world number six Stephen Maguire at the German Masters.
However, he failed to qualify for the Wuxi Classic and the Australian Open, but the world number 31 admits he feels more comfortable than ever around the table.
King said, "At the start of the season I lost 5-4 in Wuxi and 5-4 in Australia, and got to a couple of first rounds. I went out of the top 30 to 32 and then to 35. Now I am back up to 31," he added.
"I have beaten Ding. I have beaten Maguire 5-0. I only just lost to Mark Stephens in Germany 5-4. I am hitting the ball better than I have ever hit it."
British Eurosport is the home of snooker, showing 19 tournaments this season including the World Championship, UK Championship, the Masters and all ranking events, available on Sky (410/411) and Virgin Media (521/525) or online/on mobile via eurosportplayer.co.uk.
