Campbell defeated Charlton, who had held the title since 1968, in the final of the 1985 Australian Professional Championship, and during 1985/1986 recorded progress to the last-16 at four events. At the 1986 World Snooker Championship, where he eliminated Jimmy van Rensberg in qualifying, following this with a 10–8 victory over six-time World Champion Ray Reardon in the first round; however, in the next, Willie Thorne beat him 9–13.