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.