It is the final day of the Bahrain qualifiers today in Prestatyn and already players are racing into the last 32…
Holt and Dale in a rush
Wasting no time booking their places in Bahrain this morning were Dominic Dale (pictured) and Nottingham’s Michael Holt who both won their matches 5-0. Dale’s win came over John Parrott, a player he had previously never beaten, though they had only met the one time before this at the 1999 Irish Open. Dominic today made a 137 break in the opening frame and never really looked back, finishing the match with a well-taken 85. He will now play Marco Fu out in Bahrain next month.
Holt meanwhile might have set a record today as he allowed his opponent David Morris just 10 points in another whitewash. Like Dale he started well with a century break, before finishing the match off with another high break, this time of 75. Next up for him in Bahrain will be the in-form Jamie Cope in what promises to be an interesting match.
Swail woes continue
One player who continues to struggle badly though is Ireland’s Joe Swail who again lost out today, 5-1 to Robert Milkins. Joe has now lost all of his four matches so far this season and it seems that his controversial defeat to Liang Wenbo at the World Championship this year has really cost him dear. Not only did this mean what he finished outside of the top 16, but also the effect on his confidence and his morale seems to have carried over into this season. Hopefully he can recover soon because otherwise he will not only stay out of the top 16, but his top 32 place will be in doubt once again. Milkins meanwhile not progresses to play Peter Ebdon at his ‘home’ tournament in Bahrain.