Congratulations today to David Morris, Simon Bedford, Li Yan and Tian Pengfei who all came through the final round of this week’s Q School Event Two to secure their places on the main tour for 2011/12…
Round Five Results
Li Yan 4-1 David Gray
David Morris 4-3 Michael Wild
Simon Bedford 4-3 Lee Walker
Tian Pengfei 4-2 David Gilbert
The first man today to secure a place on the main tour for next season was China’s Li Yan who recorded an impressive 4-1 victory against the experienced David Gray in Sheffield. Another player to be based at the Grove, he performed well yesterday to defeat another former professional in the form of Kyren Wilson and has previous experience of having played against the top players having competed as a wildcard during many of the full Chinese ranking events.
Disappointment however for Gray who again loses in the latter stages of a Q School event and now has just one further chance to secure a place on the tour next season.
There was also to be success for another Chinese player as Tian Pengfei was able to produce an impressive 4-2 victory against David Gilbert to secure a return to the main tour for the first time since the 2007/8 season. Many snooker observers will know Tian from his performances as a wildcard in recent years, notably having defeated the likes of Mark Davis and Ronnie O’Sullivan on the big stage in Beijing.
It is hard however to not feel some sympathy for David Gilbert who has now lost at the final hurdle of a Q School event for a second successive week.
On the bright side, David will at least receive a first round bye in Event Three following the success of Simon Bedford this afternoon in another of the four matches played as he edged out Welshman Lee Walker in a deciding frame to secure an immediate return to the main tour.
Likewise there was to be a dramatic victory for young David Morris who recovered from 2-0 and 3-1 behind to overcome England’s Michael Wild in a deciding frame. At one stage it had appeared as though a late clearance from Wild might win him the match but judging by the live scores, a miss on the final pink appeared to cost him dear as Morris potted it for victory.