Joe Perry confirmed that he will end his 33-year run as a professional snooker player at the conclusion of the Halo World Championship, but extended his career by a few days at least after beating Dylan Emery 10-6 at Crucible qualifying.
Click here for day four as it happened
The Gentleman turned professional back in 1992, the same year as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and John Higgins. Although he’s not quite performed to the level of those all-time greats, Perry has enjoyed a tremendous career on the World Snooker Tour.
Perry secured a maiden ranking title at the 2015 Players Championship Grand Final in Thailand and won a first title on British soil at the Welsh Open in 2022. The Englishman made the semi-finals at the Crucible in 2008.
He came into this afternoon with Welsh opponent Emery holding a 5-4 advantage, but it was Perry who used his experience to grasp control of the tie.
Breaks of 57, 129 and 59 helped him to take six of seven frames and surge to a 10-6 win. He will now face Yuan Sijun for a place in Judgement Day.
“I’ve officially retired. As soon as my participation in this event is over, my time as a professional snooker player is up,” said 50-year-old Perry.
“I was less nervous today than I’ve been in the last few years coming here. Now I’m just trying to enjoy it. That isn’t easy when you play like I have done recently. The pressure is different as I know when my opponent gets to nine it could be my last ever frame. I’ve taken a long time to come to the decision. It isn’t a rash one.
“I’m trying as hard as ever out there. If I can play my last match at the Crucible, that would be wonderful. If it ends up being here, then that is what it is. It is going to be tough. The players are so good these days and the standard is tough. When I’m around I have a chance.
“My debut at the Crucible was very memorable, to win 10-9 on the black against a legend like Steve Davis. Getting to the one table setup in 2008 was good. I also beat Mark Selby when he was defending champion. The orange powder protest is one that springs to mind, but that was a bad memory. I’ve seen a lot at the Crucible and I’ve enjoyed my time.”
Marco Fu kept alive his hopes of a first Crucible appearance since 2018 alive with a 10-4 defeat of Ben Mertens.
Fu had to overcome a minor emergency this evening, just as the play was about to commence his tip came off. After getting it replaced, he lost the first three frames of the evening, but got over the line to seal victory. He now goes on to face Elliot Slessor
On the tip incident, Fu said: "It reminded me of playing Mark Selby in the semi-finals at the Crucible in 2016. My tip came off at 8-8. This was a similar feeling, but having an 8-1 lead helped me and gave me time to warm up the tip. I think the damage was done this morning. I played very well."
“It would be nice to get to the Crucible but I still have to win two very tough games. I’m looking forward to the challenge and if I do qualify then it would be like a dream. I’ve got to take one match at a time.”
Zhao Xintong survived a tough challenge from Long Zehuang to prevail 10-8 and will now play a third straight Chinese compatriot in Lyu Haotian.
India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha boosted his tour survival hopes with a 10-2 win over Mateusz Baranowski and Ross Muir did the same by beating fellow Scot Liam Graham 10-5. Shoot Out finalist Graham will need other results to go his way in order to survive.