Shanghai Masters Qualifying Round-up

David Grace is through to the main venue in Shanghai
after beating Tom Ford 5-2. Image: Maximum Snooker

There were a couple of surprising results in the final round of qualifying for the Shnghai Masters, which takes place in mid-September. The tournament falls under the old format which protects the top 16 seeds, who already have their places secured at the venue.

David Grace defeated world number 22 Tom Ford 5-2 and he’ll play Barry Hawkins in the first round. He joins fellow Leeds cueman Peter Lines who beat up and coming Welsh prodigy Michael White by the same scoreline.

Kyren Wilson, who returned to the tour this season via the PTC Order of Merit, beat Scot Marcus Cambell 5-3 with top runs of 62 and 84 and he’ll play Staurt Bingham at the venue. He may have won the recent Rotterdam Open but Mark Williams won’t be playing in Shanghai after he lost to David Gilbert 5-4. The Tamworth man is up to a career high ranking of 41 and runs of 55, 59 and 63 saw him through and he’ll face home hero Ding Junhui.

Mike Dunn’s excellent start to the season continued as he defeated Dominic Dale 5-3. The Cleveland man also made the latter stages of the Australian Open and breaks of 58 and 68 and he will play defending champion John Higgins in the opening round. Joining him is Walsall’s Mark Joyce after he beat Irishman Fergal O’Brien 5-4 with a top break of 81.

Also defeating seeded players were a trio of Chinese players. Xiao Guodong whitewashed Peter Ebdon with top breaks of 78 and 74 whilst Yu De Lu beat 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty 5-1. Finally world 60 Cao Yupeng overcame Ben Woollaston 5-3 with top runs of 81 and 85.

Only seven of the 16 players seeded into the last round of qualifying made it through to the first round. These were Martin Gould, Michael Holt, Andrew Higginson, Ryan Day, Mark King and Joe Perry. Ali Carter also qualified, marking his comeback after being given the all-clear from testicular cancer a few weeks ago.