Somewhat belatedly, click below to read my round-up of yesterday’s Wuxi Classic qualifiers as the final round was played to a conclusion…
Friday proved to be a good day for former world champions Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon, after the experienced duo both came through tough matches with Jack Lisowski and Matt Selt respectively. First up for Ken in Wuxi will be a difficult encounter with another former world champion in Shaun Murphy, while Peter will take on Stuart Bingham as he looks to follow his recent success in Beijing with another title in China.
Also striking a blow for experience was Rod Lawler, who having come into the tournament match sharp following his successful Q School run, was able to record a surprise 5-2 victory against Crucible quarter-finalist Jamie Jones. One of the tour’s good guy’s Rod is now through to his first venue since the 2010 China Open and if he can make it past a wildcard player, will meet Scotland’s Stephen Maguire at the last 32 stage.
Other experienced hands to make it through to the venue were Dave Harold (also through to his first venue in over a year), Fergal O’Brien, Joe Perry, Mark Davis and Scotland’s Jamie Burnett.
There was however to be success for Neath youngster Michael White, who ended his overdue wait for a maiden venue run with a 5-4 victory against Anthony Hamilton, despite two century breaks from the Nottingham cueist. Now pushing for a place inside the 48 after a consistent campaign last term, Michael has been threatening such a breakthrough for a while now and he will doubtless gain useful experience in Wuxi.
Elsewhere there was to be a moment of history as Peter Lines won the fourth frame of his match against Dominic Dale 108-84, surpassing the previous record set over 20 years ago by Sean Storey and Graham Cripsey (93-92), at the 1992 Asian Open qualifiers. In the frame, Dale conceded 14 fouls, giving away 60 points, while Lines committed 8 fouls to the tune of 36 points.
Despite that frame however, it was Dale who was to eventually come through a 5-4 winner and set-up a re-match with Judd Trump, the man who defeated him at both the UK and World Championship tournaments last season.
Another man through in a decider was Marcus Campbell, who ended the run of David Gilbert in the final match of the round to conclude, while Robert Milkins defeated Ryan Day 5-0, a repeat of the scoreline the last time the two met at last season’s Haikou World Open qualifiers.
Next up, the Australian Goldfields Open qualifiers, which begin on Tuesday, while before then the Pink Ribbon will be played to a conclusion at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester.