LESSONS learnt in Bulgaria helped the “unstoppable” Billy Castle clinch the inaugural Surrey Open Championship.

Playing in his first tournament since his quarter-final defeat in the IBSF World Championships, Castle emerged victorious from a 33-strong field at Woking Snooker Centre.

The 20-year-old from Marchwood pocketed £265 after cruising past Londoner Sean Halligan 3-0 in the final.

Tournament director Terry Teeman said: “When he’s on it, he’s unstoppable.

“Billy was on fire. What a player he is when he’s firing on all cylinders.”

But it was his 3-2 semi-final victory that underlined Castle’s “no fear” mentality.

After losing two black-ball games against Mike Coudray (Woking), he equalised and then smacked in an 88 break in the decider.

Castle, who chalked up four 147s in practice routines the previous week, insists his experience in Sofia has boosted his confidence but at the same time improved his safety game.

He said: “I’m a lot more confident in tournaments and I’m in that mode where it doesn’t matter if I go two or three nil down, I still don’t think I can lose. “It doesn’t matter who I play, I’m going to beat them.

Snooker Spotlight is in today's Daily Echo