A quick run-through of the results from day three of today’s Grand Prix Qualifiers…
Morning Session
Robert Milkins had one of the morning’s more impressive outings, despatching Andrew Higginson 5-1 in confident fashion. Tony Drago’s luck was obviously missing as he crashed 5-2 to Mike Dunn, but elsewhere it was a tale of closely fought contests, with Peter Lines, Jamie Burnett and Mark Joyce all winning in final-frame deciders.
Adrian Gunnell and Marcus Campbell also sealed their spot in the next round, but Li Hang, master of comebacks in his previous two matches, fell victim of one against him as he dropped a 2-0 lead to Mark Davis, succumbing to a 5-3 defeat.
Michael Judge 4-5 Mark Joyce
39-57, 0-79(65), 24-64(40), 117(116)-1, 65(46)-17, 13-70, 65(41)-41, 63(37)-18, 37-72(72)
Mark Davis 5-3 Li Hang
45-59, 1-87(68), 68(61)-45, 67-50, 48-68, remainder to follow
Adrian Gunnell 5-2 Patrick Wallace
59-53, 75(53)-53, 0-99(98), 65-56, 0-94(66), 92(53,39)-14, 96(89)-6
Jamie Burnett 5-4 Liu Song
78(70)-16, 104(100)-14, 83(67)-5, 24-68, 12-67, 70(69)-8, 0-77(67), 51-58(rsb), 74(59)-22
Marcus Campbell 5-3 Tom Ford
49-57, 25-98(97), 42-64, 64(53)-1, 80-49, 63-61(38), 135(135)-0, 60-41
Mike Dunn 5-2 Tony Drago
27-79(36,36), 68(42)-33, 86(80)-0, 6-79(47), 67-52, 66-30, 70(47)-1
Martin Gould 4-5 Peter Lines
69-43, 37-65, 111(106)-0, 63-20, 37-68, 81(81)-0, 55-72
Andrew Higginson 1-5 Robert Milkins
27-71(62), 66(66)-67(66), 79(54)-7, 0-113(101), 0-76(65), 49(40)-58
Afternoon Session
He has done it again, for the fourth time already this season at Prestatyn, Matt Selt has edged through in a deciding-frame finish finish, this time against world number 37 Stuart Pettman. Now into the last 48 for the second straight event having defeated some in-form players, Matt has clearly shown that his performance in Shanghai was not a one-off and he is now sure to rise even higher in the rankings. More immediately however he has a clash with Fergal O’Brien to look forward to tomorrow as he looks to qualify for his second venue in a row.
Ken Doherty meanwhile is another player enjoying a good run of results at the moment and he continued that with another win today. This was not without a scare however as at 3-2 and 4-3 down to Welshman Paul Davies he found himself in real danger of an early exit, before breaks of 48 and 69 in the final two frames just about got him over the line.
It goes without saying that this is another important win for Ken as he looks to get himself back up the rankings and now with his minimum points secure, he can go into his match with Dave Harold tomorrow with less pressure on his shoulders. Could be a long match that one!
The performance of the day however came from Dave Gilbert who was able to build on a strong win yesterday over Stephen Rowlings with a 5-0 whitewash of Anthony Hamilton tonight. While he did not quite have the breaks that he had against Rowlings, he comfortably outscored his opponent and will next face Stuart Bingham for a place in Glasgow.
Finally of the late results Ian McCulloch completed an excellent comeback from 4-1 down to see off John Parrott and win his first ranking event match since the 2008 UK Championship, while David Morris avoided falling victim to a similar comeback from Rory McLeod to win 5-4 and book his place in the final round.