He was accepted as a professional by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) in 1981, and in his first professional event, the 1981 International Open, eliminated Geoff Foulds 5–3 and Pat Houlihan 5–2 before bring knocked out 0–5 by Rex Williams in the third qualifying round. Williams also defeated him 3–9 in the first qualifying round of the 1981 UK Championship. At the 1982 Bass and Golden Leisure Classic he won 2–1 against Kingsley Kennerley before a 1–3 defeat by Paul Medati. In the concluding event of his debut season, the 1982 World Snooker Championship he defeated 9–3 Bernard Bennett and then lost 6–9 to Patsy Fagan in the second qualifying round.