Day Too Strong For Figueiredo
Ryan Day produced an impressive performance to defeat Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo 10-2 and progress to second round of Betfred World Championship Qualifying in Sheffield.
38-year-old Day summoned a tremendous blitz at the end of the first session, which realistically ended Figueiredo’s hopes of a shock victory. Day compiled breaks of 64, 66, 70, 90, 107 and 51 in consecutive frames to record an 8-1 scoreline. He got himself over the line this evening with a century run of 100.
The Welshman has enjoyed the best campaign of his career this term. He won his maiden ranking title in the very first event at the Riga Masters and he sensationally claimed back-to-back titles at the Gibraltar Open and the Romanian Masters last month.
However, Day failed to qualify for the lucrative China Open and that ultimately allowed Masters champion Mark Allen to pip him to the 16th and final automatic place at the Crucible. He now hopes that he can come through qualifying and secure his place in the main stages to cash in on his fine form.
“I’d like to have a crack at the Crucible again this year,” said the world number 17. “It’s been a breakthrough season if you like, 19 years after I started on the tour! I’ve had a good season, but it would be disappointing not to get through to the Crucible.
“I’m playing better than I have done for the last few years. I haven’t really done myself justice at the World Championship recently. That is something that I would like to put right.”
World number 18 Stephen Maguire saw off a strong challenge from Allan Taylor to come through 10-5. The Scot led by just one frame at 5-4 after the first session. However, he pulled away this evening to book his place in the second round.
Paul Hunter Classic champion Michael White avoided a shock defeat against world number 107 Niu Zhuang, emerging a 10-9 winner.
White was never ahead until the very last frame, where he forced himself over the line to secure his place in the second round.
“The first round here is massive. If you lose you have no ranking points or money and if you win it is £9,000,” said White. “I know I can hold myself together if it does get close. I’ve won without really playing my A,B or C game.”
Oliver Lines secured a huge win in his bid for tour survival. He defeated European Amateur Champion Harvey Chandler 10-6 to edge towards maintaining his professional status.
David Grace was another to move towards remaining on tour. He came through a massive match with Wang Yuchen 10-6, which saw the Chinese player relegated from the tour.
For full results click here.