Jack Lisowski put on an impressive display of form to secure a 10-3 victory over Matthew Stevens in the qualifying rounds for the Crucible event. Lisowski, ranked 17th in the world, showcased his scoring power with breaks of 137, 76, 80, 59, 73, 100, and 77 to reel off the final seven frames of the match. Former Masters and UK champion Stevens could not keep up with Lisowski’s form, despite opening the match with a century break. Lisowski expressed relief at getting through, acknowledging the pressure of expectations but also his determination to perform well this season.
Stuart Bingham, the 2015 world champion, also secured a place in the final stage of the Crucible event with a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Louis Heathcote. Bingham, who had trailed 8-7 at one point in the match, finished strong with breaks of 60, 135, and 71 to book his return trip to the Crucible. Meanwhile, veteran player Dominic Dale became the oldest player to qualify for the event since 2010, with a 10-8 win over He Guoqiang. Stephen Maguire and Ricky Walden also advanced after victories in their respective matches.
In the match between Lisowski and Stevens, the latter started with a century clearance, matched by Lisowski in the next frame. The match was closely contested, with Lisowski able to edge ahead with key frames to lead 6-3 at the mid-session interval. Stevens battled back to level the match at 3-3, but Lisowski’s strong break-building ability helped him regain the lead. Despite facing some challenges, Lisowski maintained his composure and secured a decisive victory over Stevens.
In other qualifying matches, Dominic Dale, Louis Heathcote, and Lyu Hoatian were all in close contests with their opponents. Dale held a slim lead over Guoqiang, while Heathcote led by just one frame against Bingham. Meanwhile, Jak Jones continued to impress with a 10-4 victory over Zhou Yuelong, showcasing his talent with multiple breaks over 50. The qualifiers provided an exciting preview of the upcoming Crucible event, with several players demonstrating their skill and determination on the table.
The qualifying rounds also saw Noppon Saengkham achieve the 20th maximum break in World Championship history, adding to the excitement of the tournament. Despite some players facing challenges and struggling with form, the overall quality of play was evident as they battled for a spot in the prestigious Crucible event. The results of the qualifying matches set the stage for an exciting final stage of the World Snooker Championship, with top players ready to compete for the title. Snooker fans can watch the action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com, as the tournament progresses towards the crowning of a new champion.
