Small - just champion (Allsport).

SMALL CLAIMS MAIDEN TITLE

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Chris Small collected the first trophy of his 11-year pro career in Preston, beating fellow Scot Alan McManus to become LG Cup champion.

Small, who requires regular cortisone injections to enable him to play, took seven of the last eight frames to record a memorable 9-5 win.

McManus was the fourth top-16 star Small defeated to claim an £82,500 cheque - quadruple anything he'd won in the past.

Dad Des and wife Claire were among the first to congratulate the 29-year-old former bank clerk from Edinburgh.

And given his career-threatening health problems no one was begrudging Small his surprise but deserved triumph - not least McManus.

"The cheque will help pay off the mortgage," grinned Small. "Last season my wife and I were wondering if we would be able to afford it.

"If anything it should relax me even more now I don't have to worry about money."

Small almost quit because of a serious back complaint that requires regular injections to enable him to play.

"My lowest point was last season when I played at the qualifiers," he explained. "In one match my shoulders were strapped up with bandages.

"I was walking round the table like a mummy."

Small is still troubled by the spinal illness but he has now fulfilled a lifetime ambition even in the worst case scenario.

Victories over Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins put him through to a semi-final against Jimmy Michie.

"I could imagine people saying 'typical, he beats Ronnie and John and loses to Jimmy Michie'.

"That put more pressure on me but once I'd beaten Jimmy I thought my name was on the trophy," said the world number 29.

"Chris fully deserved to win," said sporting McManus, who looked visibly tired after his gruelling semi-final success against Steve Davis on Saturday night.

"I don't think the game against Steve took it out of me," he insisted after receiving his £42,500 consolation prize.

"I'm sure Chris was just as tired as I was. But from my point of view it was an anti-climax.

"It was not a great match but Chris was solid and if I left anything sticking out he knocked it in.

"But I'm delighted for him, he's a lovely lad and he deserves this victory after all he's been through."

Deposed champion Stephen Lee collected a £5,000 high-break prize for his 141 against Ryan Day in round two.