After a week of drama, joy and heartbreak in Sheffield, today sees Stage Two of the World Championship qualifiers come to an end as we will learn the identity of the last 48 players ahead of the final three days next week. Click below for results…
Results
10am
Andrew Higginson 4-5 Jamie Jones
103(75)-19, 56-70, 0-86(82), 48-69, 57-25, 64-17, 60-28, 55-67, 20-53
Jimmy Michie 4-5 Paul Davies
40-63, 5-71, 69-18, 32-68(52), 91(78)-0, 15-55, 4-68, 100(58)-13, 70-5
Mike Dunn 4-5 Jin Long
66-32, 73-62(62), 73(57)-28, 27-67, 44-68, 59-66(52), 18-89(60), 90-8, 26-61
Liang Wenbo 4-5 David Morris
Jamie Burnett 6-3 Simon Bedford
70(70)-8, 71-6, 47-56, 16-70(52), 37-76(67), 76-27, 71(52)-32, 91(52)-0, 61-10
Michael Holt 4-5 Mark Davis
2:30pm
John Parrott 3-10 Matthew Couch
3-77(48), 70-58, 2-64, 26-50, 36-54, 8-129(129), 2-68(49), 7-70, 131(131)-0, 30-71, 67-30, 30-69(61)
Adrian Gunnell 2-10 Lee Spick
7-108(56,52), 38-65, 10-67, 36-67, 67-6, 71(62)-29, 45-80(63), 10-110(109), 55(55)-68(44), 5-79(78), 8-71(56), 13-62(47)
Alan McManus 10-8 Stuart Pettman
63-49, 23-67(59), 76-1, 65-16, 26-69, 42-63, 83-36, 24-62, 58(52)-60, 64-5, 22-58, 31-97(93)
David Gilbert 8-10 Martin Gould
0-70(65), 82-46, 11-63, 95(91)-0, 39-76, 97(97)-0, 1-84, 6-63, 45-68, 61-34, 68-23, 70-65
7pm
Andrew Higginson 10-8 Jamie Jones
103(75)-19, 56-70, 0-86(82), 48-69, 57-25, 64-17, 60-28, 55-67, 20-53, 77-27, 83(44)-29, 66-18, 0-108(56), 65(45)-53, 70(70)-0, 31-72, 40-56, 68-49
Jimmy Michie 6-10 Paul Davies
40-63, 5-71, 69-18, 32-68(52), 91(78)-0, 15-55, 4-68, 100(58)-13, 70-5, 32-68, 48-67, 50-70, 74-67, 68-60, 59(42)-69(41), 8-70
Mike Dunn 10-7 Jin Long
66-32, 73-62(62), 73(57)-28, 27-67, 44-68, 59-66(52), 18-89(60), 90-8, 26-61, 80(44)-15, 78(55)-29, 71(62)-36, 76(45)-6, 39-66, 80(59)-13, 16-69(65), 71-0
Liang Wenbo 10-8 David Morris
52-71(57), 83-42, 35-54, 1-60(53), 31-61, 1-131, 65-48, 83-42, 87(77)-14, 91(79)-41, 58-45(44), 70(53)-23, 0-92(92), 138(134)-0, 99(90)-31, 18-70(40), 0-79(43), 69-62(respot black)
Jamie Burnett 10-8 Simon Bedford
70(70)-8, 71-6, 47-56, 16-70(52), 37-76(67), 76-27, 71(52)-32, 91(52)-0, 61-10, 6-76, 68-55, 18-60, 56(40)-57, 32-72, 68-34, 5-74(49), 69(41)-13, 81-0
Michael Holt 10-9 Mark Davis
53-65, 84-18, 0-121(117), 77(57)-16, 96-0, 0-92(72), 69-63(63), 0-93(93), 1-96(57), 14-62, 69(43)-7, 7-59, 63(55)-51, 107(43)-21, 37-67, 63(62)-19, 40-71(48), 63(62)-4, 132(127)-0
Observations
Well what an evening session we have in store after five of the six matches this morning finished at 5-4 leaving all to play for. Even Simon Bedford who finds himself 6-3 down is still right in with a shout as he came back from further behind to defeat David Roe on Monday. Can’t wait for tonight now, maybe I chose the wrong day not to to, typical!
In the afternoon session Matt Couch and Lee Spick have completed straightforward victories, brilliant results for both considering that they have come all the way from round one and now find themselves just one win away from the Crucible. It also makes absolutely certain that both will remain on the main tour next season and keeps their hopes of a top 64 spot alive.
For Parrott in particular though, defeat is a huge blow as it means that he will now lose his place in the top 48 and so will have an extra qualification match for all ranking events next season. He did give it a go today at least, making an excellent 131 break, but he had left himself too much to do and Couch soon took the frames he needed to win.
The match between Martin Gould and Dave Gilbert looks to be going all the way as Gilbert wins three of the opening four frames to close to just one behind at 7-6. This match is crucial to both, not just for making the Crucible but also for their hopes of a top 48 place next year. Stuart Pettman meanwhile has taken a 7-5 lead against veteran Scot Alan McManus…
Having seen Gilbert draw level at 8-8, Gould has held on to claim a 10-8 win and book his place in the final round next week. It’s a shame for Gilbert because he seems like a nice guy and must have been confident after his run in the Welsh, but so was Gould and for the second round in a row he just done enough when under pressure.
One man who has completed a comeback however is veteran Alan ‘angles’ McManus who took five of the last six frames to secure a brilliant 10-8 win over Stuart Pettman. This is a crucial win because with his top 48 place in the balance, he has managed to move right back up the rankings and into 37th place as it stands, surely safe for another season in that bracket.
Jamie Jones however has gone, losing 10-8 to Andrew Higginson and as a result seeing his second spell on the main tour come to an end. Good win for Andrew though from 5-4 down and next up for him will be a meeting with Michael Judge. A good win too for Mike Dunn who has ended the challenge of Jin Long with a 10-7 win and given himself half a chance of breaking into the top 32 next season. For Long it is disappointing, but having already won two matches this season he has ensured that he will move up into the top 64, a fine achievement indeed when you consider that he started with the minimum starter points.
Great win tonight for Welshman Paul Davies who has overcome Jimmy Michie to reach the final qualifying round where he will play Stoke’s Jamie Cope. For Michie though it means a tense wait because at 48th exactly on the rankings, his top 48 status is now very much on the line. The most likely player to be able to take it is Jamie Burnett, though he is locked at 8-8 with Simon Bedford right now…
Liang Wenbo comes back and completes a terrific comeback over David Morris in dramatic fashion on a re-spotted black! Last year’s quarter-finalist will now meet Dave Harold in what will be an interesting clash of styles.
And Jamie Burnett comes through 10-8 to retain his spot in the top 48 for another season at the expense of Michie. It was another great effort from Simon to fight back and qualify for the final round, but Jamie had just enough when he needed it and goes on to face Fergal O’Brien in the next round.
The final match of the evening between Michael Holt and Mark Davis goes to a decider and what a way to win it, Michael Holt knocking in a superb break of 127 to come through and seal his place in the next round. Michael has a habit of losing matches like this but fair play to him for holding it together tonight and coming through under all sorts of pressure. Next up for him is a clash with Dominic Dale and he can play that knowing that he has now given himself an excellent chance of getting back into the top 32.
Loading tweets...
8 comments
George McCauley says:
March 4, 2009 at 8:03 pm (UTC 0 )
Gould’s Done It!!! 10 – 8
over the past 2 seasons particularly this season he has really come of age, winning lots of matches, already qualified for 2 events this year and a possible biggest 3rd.
Beating hendry in wales, has obviously done his confidence the world of good and is now a danger to most players now.
From what I’ve heard hes in the top 48 now which means one less qualifying match to play.
He is looking to be a force to be reckoned with.
Do You think he is the up and coming player to watch and look out for??
matt2745 says:
March 4, 2009 at 8:13 pm (UTC 0 )
It’s hard to say just how high he will go but yeah he’s currently in the top 48 which would be significant. He’s only 46th though with five or six players behind him who can still move up, so whether he stays there remains to be seen.
He’s certainly a dangerous player though, to come on the tour last year and finish in the top 64 in his first season with the rubbish starter points newcomers get was a fine achievement and he’s moved up another level now. Good progression and if he can get off to a good start next year, there’s no reason why he can’t at least secure a spot in the 48 and push for the top 32 I’d say.
dannyboy says:
March 4, 2009 at 10:21 pm (UTC 0 )
Big win for Lee Spick. Gunnell gave up me thinks once the writing was on the wall! I think Steve Davis may tie Lee up in a different type of battle next week. It will be a huge learning curve and a week off is probably not what Spick wants having got into really good form with three wins. It is going to be a real joy to watch next Tuesday and I for one will be there to see the legend show his real mental edge as SD definitely wants to win this one to get those extra 1400 pts and be at the Crucible against probably Hendry – I think most have seen the draw coming assuming SD wins! It will be a great contrast to watch old v new next Tuesday – its going to be a classic – can’t wait!!
Craig says:
March 4, 2009 at 10:36 pm (UTC 0 )
Aye, you ASSUME if Davis wins…. and you know what they say about that!!
dannyboy says:
March 4, 2009 at 10:59 pm (UTC 0 )
I have every confidence. He has been pretty solid today in some good warm up games against top 16 players. Hes match tight and this week’s Championship games will have him nicely tuned up for next week. Im not sure Lee Spick could hold, Dott, Higgins, Doherty and Stevens even over 4 frames each and remain unbeaten. Knocked in several breaks over 60 and that follows his impressive game against Ronnie. Spick will have to be totally brilliant and consistent over long frames for the whole day and then hope Steve has an off day for him (in his current era) to win! Steve is a 90 – 10 favourite in my book. So he has a 1 in 10 chance. Hence my assumption!!
Craig says:
March 4, 2009 at 11:31 pm (UTC 0 )
Impressive??
Ronnie played garbage, thats what made it remotely close!!
Sammy says:
March 5, 2009 at 8:40 am (UTC 0 )
OMG WHAT A WIN FOR HOLTY!
dannyboy says:
March 5, 2009 at 9:40 pm (UTC 0 )
Has Craig followed SD this week? Played top class last two days and I think he should revise his comments about SDs chances! OK Higgins beat him in the final but even Phil Yates was saying how SD is great value to beat Spick next week. Based on this seasons form I challenge Craig to state how Hendry is playing better than Davis? Bring it on!