Charman's big aim is third time lucky

The 28-year-old Hailsham ace, seeded two, has twice been a beaten finalist. Charman, a member at Carriages in her home town, begins her campaign in Manchester tonight hopeful that it's going to be her year.

The world No.3, who faces a qualifier, is almostly certainly going to have to beat world No.1 Cassie Campion, from Norfolk, for her dream to become a reality.

She said: "I played Cassie in an exhibition match yesterday and she beat me

2-1, but as long as I'm beating her in the final at the end of the week I'll be happy. I have beaten her before and I'm playing well at the moment. It'll be tough and I'll be over the moon if I can do it, but anything's possible. Although I don't like to think too far ahead in the tournament, I feel I can win.

"I'll certainly be doing my best, and hoping it'll be third time lucky. If I win the title I will have won the most difficult national championship in the world.

"The prize money isn't why I'm playing, it's for the pride of being national champion. Three of the world's top four are in it and, altogether, six of the top ten are in it."

Sunday's final at the 2,000 capacity Velodrome is already a sell-out, but Charman has a tricky draw should she win tonight's last-16 match.

She is seeded to meet fifth seed Suzannah Horner (Yorkshire) in tomorrow's quarter-finals with Kent's Sue Wright, the former world No.3, expected to be lying in wait in the last four on Saturday.

Charman said: "I've beaten Suzie recently but she's an incredibly fit 36-year-old who would give me a difficult match.

"Sue has slipped down the difficult over the past year, but that was only because of illness and she's back to her best now.

"I've also got the tough half of the draw because one of the seeds, Fiona Geaves, has dropped out the other half.

"But there are no easy roads, but my main aim is to be champion."

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