After a taxing week on the baize at the English Institute of Sport, 16 Crucible hopefuls are set to seal their World Snooker Championship berths in Sheffield on Wednesday.
The remaining field has already emerged from two tough matches to reach this point, the final qualifying stage which defines many a player’s campaign.
Qualifying for the last 32 and the venue stages of the World Championship can still trump anything that has gone before this term, such is the weight of importance attached to the blue riband tournament.
The top 16 in the world rankings already await the outcome of Thursday morning’s draw.
By the end of tonight, the full line-up will be complete and the 17-day “marathon of the mind” can get under way in earnest.
Tuesday’s action at the EIS marked the appetiser for the main event that is today’s so-called Judgement Day.
Each of the final fixtures reached their halfway points, providing a mixture close and more one-sided affairs.
Former world champion Graeme Dott, who has failed to qualify only once since 2000, is one of five competitors to boast an imposing 7-2 advantage overnight in the race to ten.
The others are Tian Pengfei, who could become one of several debutants in the last 32 after establishing a healthy cushion over two-time finalist Matthew Stevens, as well as Robert Milkins, Zhao Xintong, and Scott Donaldson.
Three clashes feature 6-3 scorelines, including the match between amateurs James Cahill and Michael Judge.
Cahill scored heavily in the opening session but his Irish opponent did well to win the last two frames and keep alive his aspirations of becoming the first amateur to play at the Crucible.
Experienced duo Ali Carter and Joe Perry are the other two players to hold three-frame leads.
There’s just a single frame difference between the protagonists in all the other ties, meaning that there could be plenty of drama to come as we watch Judgement Day unfold.
Among those with the narrow advantages are Gary Wilson over Liang Wenbo, Lyu Hoatian against Mark Davis, and Michael Georgiou on Yan Bingtao.
⏰ 2 hours to go! #JudgementDay#ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/zEo2YFlbWo
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) April 17, 2019
In order to watch Judgement Day, one of the most exciting set of sessions in the entire year, there are several options available.
The Eurosport Player will feature the main two tables of each session.
However, where the action is most enjoyed will be on the official World Snooker Facebook and YouTube channels.
On these platforms, Rob Walker and Neal Foulds will be following every table, roaming around the action as each encounter reaches its potentially thrilling climax.
The coverage conjured up by the duo is one of the most entertaining of the season and, given that it’s free for anyone to watch Judgement Day, it’s highly recommended that you find a way to tune in.
World Championship Final Qualifying Round
Tian Pengfei 7-2 Matthew Stevens (5pm session BST)
Gary Wilson 5-4 Liang Wenbo (11am session)
Luo Honghao 5-4 Tom Ford (5pm session)
Robert Milkins 7-2 Anthony McGill (11am session)
Graeme Dott 7-2 Kurt Maflin (5pm session)
Li Hang 5-4 Ben Woollaston (5pm session)
Daniel Wells 4-5 Martin Gould (11am session)
Michael Georgiou 5-4 Yan Bingtao (11am session)
Ali Carter 6-3 John Astley (5pm session)
Eden Sharav 4-5 Zhou Yuelong (11am session)
Mark Davis 4-5 Lyu Haotian (11am session/Eurosport)
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-4 Joe O’Connor (11am session/Eurosport)
Michael Judge 3-6 James Cahill (11am session)
Lu Ning 2-7 Scott Donaldson (5pm session)
Matthew Selt 2-7 Zhao Xintong (5pm session/Eurosport)
Martin O’Donnell 3-6 Joe Perry (5pm session/Eurosport)
Watch Judgement Day
YouTube link (Refresh the page once the session starts)
Facebook link (Refresh the page once the session starts)
