Lines Edges Un Nooh Thriller
On a night of high drama, World Senior’s Champion Peter Lines edged out Thepchaiya Un Nooh 10-9, winning the last three frames to reach the second round of Betfred World Championship Qualifying in Sheffield.
The 47-year-old earned a place at Ponds Forge thanks to his recent victory at the World Senior’s Championship. He defeated legendary Crucible champions Stephen Hendry and John Parrott to pick up the title. This evening’s win puts the amateur in a strong position to earn a tour card for next season by virtue of this season’s money-list.
The match swung both ways throughout, but Lines showed his class by turning on the style in the final three frames. At 9-7 down, he won a tight 17th frame before compiling breaks of 69 and 77 to snatch a 10-9 win.
Lines remarked: “I’m a little bit speechless. I thought I’d blown my chance at 9-7 down. I found something there in the last three frames and played really well. I took my chances straight away and I’m over the moon.”
“I’m going to try my best. The Crucible is where everybody wants to play and I am going to try as hard as I can to get back there,” said Lines who’s only Crucible appearance came in 1998. “If it’s not to be I’m sure I will be going back there with my son Oliver at some point in the near future.”
15-year-old Jackson Page suffered an agonizing late night defeat against Martin O’Donnell. The Welsh star trailed throughout the match, but showed tremendous character to cling on in the tie. Page came from 4-0 and 7-4 down to force a decider at 9-9. It went all the way to the final pink, but it was O’Donnell who managed to progress. He will face Hammad Miah next who recorded a shock defeat of three-time ranking winner Ricky Walden.
Gary Wilson had a day to remember at Ponds Forge. The 31-year-old made the second 147 of his career, as he opened up a 7-2 advantage over Josh Boileau in the morning session. However, the Irishman battled back to take it down to the final frame at 9-9. Wilson closed the match out in style, compiling a run of 102 to get over the line.
Michael White put on a fine display as he eased past India’s Aditya Mehta 10-3. The former Crucible quarter-finalist made breaks of 51, 72, 71, 73 and 58 to move 9-0 ahead after the first session. Mehta battled on admirably and got three frames on the board in the evening. However, it wasn’t enough as White progressed.
For full results click here.