KEIGHLEY snooker star Rebecca Granger has launched an appeal to enable her to challenge for the World Championships in Singapore next year.

The 27-year-old shocked women's snooker last April by reaching the semi-finals of last season's event in Leeds.

The fact that it was only the former Keighley Oaks and Silsden Ladies' footballer's second tournament showed her latent promise.

However, Rebecca isn't certain of playing in next March's global championship as it leaves these shores for the first time since 1995 to be held in Singapore – just 6,777 miles further than this year!

Rebecca, who is a personal trainer, said: "I need to raise £1,000 for flights and accommodation and have raised £135 so far, so I am relying on donations from family, friends and clients to help me get there.

"It would be a massive shame if I didn't as I am trying to climb up the rankings and reach the top eight before Singapore."

Rebecca, who launched her fundraising campaign last week, has already broken into the world's top 16.

She said: "I started the season 21st but I have just found out that I am up to 14th, and getting to the top eight (via January's Eden Classic in Derby and February's Connie Gough Memorial Trophy in Dunstable) will give me easier draws later in the tournaments."

A quarter-final place on her debut last season at the Eden Classic in Chesterfield was followed by that world semi-final place at the Northern Snooker Centre, where she defeated world No 3 Jaique Ip (Hong Kong) 3-1 in the last 16 and Australian Kathy Howden 4-1 in the quarter-finals before nervously losing 4-0 to holder and full-time player Ng On Yee (Hong Kong).

Eager to build on that excellent tournament, Rebecca had the toughest of draws in her 2016-17 opener – the Paul Hunter Ladies' Classic in Furth, Germany in August.

She explained: "I was in a group of three with world champion Reanne Evans and Russia's Irina Gorbataya, and as there was no chance of us beating Reanne, it was basically a straight three-frame shoot-out between Irina and myself."

Rebecca, who had her flights and accommodation to Germany paid for by Airedale Chemicals and Comet Steel, lost 3-0 to Evans and 2-1 to Gorbataya, and admitted: "It was different playing abroad."

However, Rebecca's group was much more favourable when it came to this season's second tournament – the LITEtask UK Ladies' Championship back at the Northern Snooker Centre last month.

She beat fellow Englanders Suzie Opacic and Maureen Rowland 3-0 to qualify for the last 16, where world No 9 Jenny Poulter (England) was despatched 3-1 before Rebecca lost a tense quarter-final 3-2 to On Yee on the final black.

Rebecca, who has said goodbye to her football boots after a shoulder operation in July, admitted: "My target was to win a frame, so to win two was brilliant.

"This gave me a huge confidence boost and I believe, with more practice and training, I can give the best players in the world a run for their money.

"I would love the chance to compete in the World Championships (March 13-19). Please help me get there!"

If you want to help Rebecca, donations can be made on her GoFundMe page.