Today sees rounds three and four of the first Q School event played to a conclusion as the field is reduced to just eight ahead of tomorrow’s final round. Click below for the scores so far…
Morning Session round-up (Round Three)
Andrew Norman 4-1 Luke Simmonds
Lee Walker 4-2 Ian Glover
David Gray 2-4 Ian Burns
Stuart Carrington 1-4 Chen Zhe
Nick Jennings 2-4 Kyren Wilson
Zhang Anda 4-1 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
David Grace 4-1 Sydney Wilson
Mei Xi Wen 1-4 Jamie O’Neill
First man through this morning was former professional Andrew Norman who eased past Luke Simmonds to set up a fourth round tie with Lee Walker who overcame Ian Glover in one of the other matches this morning.
It was not to be a good day for another former professional however as former ranking event winner David Gray lost out 4-2 to Preston’s Ian Burns, despite taking two in a row from 0-3 to put Ian under pressure. I must confess that I am not all that familiar with Ian but he has scored heavily all week so far and although David is not the player that he once was, this is still an excellent result for him.
Elsewhere it was a good morning for the Grove as Chinese duo Chen Zhe and Zhang Anda both won tough openers to progress to the fourth round. Next up for Chen will be a clash with Burns while Zhang will face Kyren Wilson who came back from 2-0 down to defeat Nick Jennings this morning. Having already come back from 3-0 behind against Jak Jones yesterday, Kyren has already demonstrated that he has the temperament to succeed here and I look forward to seeing how he handles the threat posed by Zhang.
Also through came Leeds’ amateur David Grace who saw off Sydney Wilson to set up a match with On Q’s Jamie O’Neill later this evening.
Afternoon Session round-up
Alex Davies 0-4 Tian Pengfei
John Astley 2-4 Adam Wicheard
Fraser Patrick 4-0 Chris Norbury
Jamie Walker 0-4 Allan Taylor
Antony Parsons 1-4 Gary Wilson
Craig Steadman 3-4 Robin Hull
Mike Hallett 3-4 Reanne Evans
David Gilbert 4-2 Martin O’Donnell
Through this afternoon without too much trouble were Tian Pengfei, Fraser Patrick and Allan Taylor who all recorded 4-0 victories to move into the second round. There was however something of a scare for Allan who having led 90-25 in the last frame with just 35 remaining, briefly looked as though he might be on the receiving end of an incredible comeback as Jamie Walker brought the score back to 90-46 with 35 on. Eventually though Taylor sunk the final red to set up a tie with Fraser Patrick this evening.
The most dramatic matches however included that between Craig Steadman and Robin Hull, two talented players who were always going to be tough to separate and eventually it was Finland’s Hull who took the decider in one visit with an excellent break.
Also to go the distance was the match between Mike Hallett and Reanne Evans and despite seeing her opponent come back from 0-3 to level at 3-3, taking frame six on the black to win it by a point, Reanne held her nerve to secure an impressive victory.
She will however have to up her game in the next round as she meets David Gilbert, still the favourite to progress from this section given his unquestionable talent.
Evening Session (Round Four)
Andrew Norman 4-2 Lee Walker
Ian Burns 2-4 Chen Zhe
Kyren Wilson 1-4 Zhang Anda
David Grace 4-2 Jamie O’Neill
Tian Pengfei 2-4 Adam Wicheard
Fraser Patrick 4-0 Allan Taylor
Gary Wilson 1-4 Robin Hull
Reanne Evans 1-4 David Gilbert
First man through to the final round this evening was Finland’s Robin Hull who eased past Gary Wilson 4-1 to leave himself just one match away from a return to the main tour. He will not find it easy however as he will now face David Gilbert who fresh on the back of his run to the last 48 of the World Championship made it through tonight with a 4-1 win against Reanne Evans. It is a tough one to call but based on the fact that he has had the greater experience on the Star match tables during the past couple of seasons, I would just about make Gilbert favourite, though would not be surprised to see Robin win either.
At the other end of the draw, Andrew Norman and young Chen Zhe both won tough matches by 4-2 margins to set-up their meeting tomorrow in the fifth and final round. Without having seen Chen Zhe play before it is a tough one to call and on paper Andrew’s greater experience could prove telling.
On paper the match between Zhang Anda and Kyren Wilson looked to be the pick of the round tonight and eventually it was Zhang who came through 4-1 to keep his bid for an immediate return to the main tour alive. Next up is another intriguing tie with a former professional as he comes up against Leeds’ David Grace.
Finally Adam Wicheard recorded a tremendous 4-2 victory against the much-fancied Tian Pengfei to set up a match with Scot Fraser Patrick tomorrow.