Ranking, Snooker News, Tournaments

Williams out of China Open

The China Open qualifying round concluded on Thursday but not before another top name fell foul of the system at the Metrodome in Barnsley.

Mark Williams
Williams won the China Open in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Mark Allen had been the biggest casualty of the tournament so far when he lost his opening tie on Wednesday while another Mark, this time Williams, joined him following a 5-3 loss to Martin O’Donnell.

The Welshman had led 3-1 at the mid-session interval but lost all four frames after the resumption to hand England’s O’Donnell one of his best ever victories.

It was a terrible day for the Irish contingent, though, with Fergal O’Brien, Ken Doherty and amateur Leo Fernandez all bowing out.

Doherty was humbled by Rhys Clark 5-0 but O’Brien will feel particularly aggrieved to have been beaten after being in control of his decider with Ian Burns until a marvelous 69 clearance sent him back to Dublin.

There were better outcomes for John Higgins and Judd Trump with each emerging unscathed from battles against Michael Wasley and Joel Walker respectively.

Chinese duo Tian Pengfei, who beat Fernandez 5-3, and Li Hang reached their home event in Beijing but countryman Lu Ning went down 5-1 to the much-improved Stuart Carrington.

Northern Ireland’s Joe Swail enjoyed a 5-3 success over Ian Glover, the same scoreline that Chris Wakelin beat Kurt Maflin by.

Two Thais earned deciding frame victories with Dechawat Poomjaeng and Noppon Saengkham edging out Michael Leslie and Oliver Lines respectively, while Rory McLeod was also taken the distance before defeating James Cahill 5-4 as well.

The Chine Open gets under way at the end of March.

Click here to view the draw

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