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Only one Real player had more touches than his 57 at that stage.

"It was refreshing to have them supporting me at that stage when I was coming up against so many obstacles," she recalled.

At that stage, "it was clear the US didn't want to get involved".

When exchanging contracts, she says she was told a mortgage offer was not needed at that stage, as long as she could finance the properties.

At that stage it looked as though his only consolation would be to keep hold of the £10,000 high break prize alongside a runner-up cheque of £60,000.