In his first professional tournament, the 1984 International Open, he won four qualifying matches, 5–2 against Maurice Parkin, 5–1 against Eddie McLaughlin, 5–4 against Jack Fitzmaurice and 5–4 against Mike Hallett, before losing 3–5 to Willie Thorne. Also in his debut season, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1985 British Open, and progressing through the qualifying rounds with four wins and a walkover, reached the last 32 of the 1985 World Snooker Championship, losing 4–10 to David Taylor.