Marco Fu edged Liam Davies 10-9 in a dramatic second-round contest as the 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers continued on Friday in Sheffield.
A topsy-turvy tie ebbed one way and then the other before a tense finish in the 19th and final frame saw the outcome determined on the last black.
Fu, twice a World Championship semi-finalist, hasn’t played at the Crucible Theatre since 2018 but is now two victories away from a return to the home of snooker.
The 48 year-old from Hong Kong got off to a great start against Davies, winning the opening frame with a break of 102 and pinching the second on the colours.
But Davies scored heavily to take the next four frames and ended the first session 5-4 in front.
Fu then dominated the opening exchanges of the second session and seemed on course for a comfortable victory when another brace of tons helped him to a 9-5 advantage.
But Davies, who knew that defeat would consign him to tour relegation, scrambled back to force a deciding frame.
Both players had opportunities in a nervy 19th frame, but it was Fu who managed to just about get over the winning line.
It has been a difficult half-dozen or so years for the three-time ranking event winner.
Fu still shows flashes of his old brilliance but his overall consistency is debilitated by an ongoing eyesight issue.
That he has been able to emerge from two best-of-19 frame encounters this week will give his confidence a boost, with Jak Jones next on the agenda at the English Institute of Sport.
“Everybody has their story and their reason to win,” Fu told the World Snooker Tour. “This was an important match for Liam and for me as well.”
“That is why the World Championship is so special. It is the last and best tournament of the season. Everyone is fighting.
“I can tell you it isn’t easy out there. Whether you are a newcomer or a seven-time world champion. I am just very happy to have won.”
Elsewhere on day five of the world qualifiers, there was another enthralling encounter that concluded on the final black.
Jordan Brown began his match against Ian Burns ranked 64th in the provisional end-of-season rankings – just inside the cut-off point for tour survival.
The Northern Irishman raced into a 6-0 lead against Ian Burns but was gradually pegged back, and when the latter took it all the way there appeared to be just one outcome.
But Brown, a former Welsh Open champion, somehow managed to dig deep and prevail at the death.
The 38 year-old hasn’t safeguarded his tour status just yet and is only up to 63rd in the provisional rankings ahead of Jamie Jones.
But for his sake, at least he is still in there fighting and with his destiny in his own hands.
Oliver Sykes, meanwhile, became the fourth amateur player through to the penultimate round.
The young Englishman, who will be a professional next season after earning a two-year card through the European Amateur Championships, compiled a rare 146 break in his 10-8 victory over Lyu Haotian.
One of the most dangerous players in the qualifiers this year is Chang Bingyu, and the Scottish Open runner-up didn’t disappoint with a three-ton display to thrash Prin Ratmukda 10-2.
Among the others to qualify for the next round were Ishpreet Singh Chadha, Liu Hongyu, Allan Taylor, and Bulcsu Revesz.
Ben Mertens also advanced after opponent Jamie Clarke withdrew from their clash as a result of feeling unwell.
The second round will finish on Saturday with the remaining seven matches reaching their climax.
It’s from Saturday too when the heaviest hitters from the qualifying competition start entering the fray.
Former world champion Stuart Bingham and two-time runner-up Matthew Stevens are a couple of high-profile players who will be in action.
More information on the draw, including the schedule and results, is available by clicking here.
Featured photo credit: WST
