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Tony Drago fought his way back on to snooker's main professional tour after completing a 5-4 victory over Dutchman Roy Stolk to win the EBSA European Snooker play-offs in Belgium.

Drago, a former world number 10, was relegated from the main circuit last year but his excellent snooker in Duffel saw him come out on top of the 96-strong field.

That earned him 1,000 euros prize money and a place on the main World Snooker Tour for 2009-10.

The Maltese player trailed Stolk 4-3 in the best-of-nine final, but a key snooker in the eighth frame and a break of 53 in the decider saw him over the line.

"After 25 years as a professional, I can't tell you how much I have missed it," said Drago, 43.

"When you come to a tournament and you know you have to win it that is huge pressure.

"If anyone doubted before that I do have the bottle, then I have proved to them and myself that I have a big heart and the bottle to stand up under the pressure."

Drago also paid tribute to the help he had received from snooker legend Jimmy White.

"I couldn't have done any of this without Jimmy White," he said. "He gave me the keys to his club so I could go and practise and he reignited my love for the game.

"We practised together a lot and I fell in love with the game again. He was always my hero and I want to thank him publicly."

Eurosport