World Championship Qualifying



Luca Brecel has become the youngest player to reach The
Crucible after a 10-8 victory over Mark King

Luca Brecel was the name on everybody’s lips after the week long qualifying campaign, as he became the youngest player of all time to play at the crucible. The 17-year-old Belgian overcame Mark King 10-8 in the fourth qualifying round but had previously beaten Michael Holt after a deciding frame and also recorded comfortable victories over the experienced Ian McCulloch and Barry Pinches to book his place in the crucible draw. His prize is a first round match against Stephen Maguire. World number 68 David Gilbert was also a surprise qualifier after he defeated Stuart Carrington, Jimmy Roberston, Mike Dunn and then a comfortable 10-4 victory over Fergal O’Brien meaning he will face Martin Gould.

Cao Yupeng also impressed at the English Institute of Sport as he won all four of his qualifiers to reach the main event. Ranked 81 in the world, the Chinese beat veterans Dave Harold and Nigel Bond before a 10-9 defeat of Tom Ford in the final round to set up a first round match with Mark Allen. Yupeng will be accompanied by fellow compatriots Liang Wembo who beat Marcus Campbell after a deciding frame and Liu Chuang who defeated Jamie Cope 10-7.

Stephen Hendry had to qualify for the world championship for the first time in 24 years and faced Yu Delu in the final round. He overcame the Chinese 10-6 and will face Stuart Bingham in the main draw. There was an easy victory for the recent winner of the China Open, Peter Ebdon as he whitewashed Alfie Burden 10-0 and he will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in an exciting first round match. 41-year-old Ken Doherty also made it through after beating Anthony Hamilton in a crazy match that ended 10-9. Hamilton fought back from 9-7 down to make it 9-9 and attempted to snooker his opponent behind the brown but under hit which left himself snookered. He was unable to play safe from the next shot and the Irishman kept his composure to clear up to set up a match against Neil Robertson at the Crucible.

Jamie Jones barely put a foot wrong with a 10-2 victory over world number 15 Ricky Walden. Walden who’s had a strong season, was easily the favourite but was unable to make his chances count so Jones will face Shaun Murphy in the first round. Robert Milkins recorded a maximum 147 break in his third qualifying round win against Xiao Guodong but he was defeated in the final round 110-5 by Mark Davis who will face Ali Carter. There were also wins for Joe Perry, Andrew Higginson, Dominic Dale, Ryan Day, Marco Fu and Barry Hawkins.

The full first round draw for the world championship is as follows:

John Higgins v Liang Wenbo
Stuart Bingham v Stephen Hendry
Graeme Dott v Joe Perry
Stephen Maguire v Luca Brecel
Shaun Murphy v Jamie Jones
Stephen Lee v Andrew Higginson
Ali Carter v Mark Davis
Judd Trump v Dominic Dale
Mark Williams v Liu Chuang
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Peter Ebdon
Martin Gould v David Gilbert
Neil Robertson v Ken Doherty
Ding Junhui v Ryan Day
Mark Allen v Cao Yupeng
Matthew Stevens v Marco Fu
Mark Selby v Barry Hawkins