Crucible Qualifiers… Part 2
As the qualifying players for the World Championship continue to be confirmed on an exciting day dubbed Judgement Day in Sheffield, four more of the line-up are assessed by The Sportman’s reporter Gary Moss.
Jack Lisowski
It’s hard to argue against Lisowski being the standout performer in the qualifiers this week in Sheffield.
He’s looked in devastating form brushing aside Christopher Keogan, David Grace and Alan McManus all with relative ease.
This vastly talented player has surprisingly only ever played at the Crucible once before when he lost out to Barry Hawkins 10-3 in the opening round in 2012. He will be confident of a much better showing this time in a season where has reached a semi-final and two quarter-finals in ranking events. He’s up to number 30 in the world rankings and on the cusp of breaking into the top 16 of the one-year ranking list.
He is a man all the big guns will be desperate to avoid.
With his fearless streak a clear strength, he could be a real dangerman in Sheffield.
Lyu Haotian
With highly rated young Chinese stars Yan Bingtao and Zhou Yuelong both making their Crucible debuts a year ago, this time it is Lyu Haotian who gets his turn.
The 20-year old sensation showed he has the full package in qualifying. First, he came through a hard-fought opening tie 10-8 against compatriot Fang Xiongman and he was then the comeback king in the next round to beat Martin O’Donnell 10-9 after trailing both 6-1 and 9-5. In his final match, he really turned on the style to dispatch of Rory McLeod 10-2 on Judgement Day.
This run to the Crucible has helped him to climb into the top 64 of the rankings in the first of his two-year tour card and builds on his impressive run to the last 16 of the UK Championship earlier this season – showing he is a player capable of delivering at the biggest events.
Xiao Guodong
The Chinese cueman is getting the hang of this qualifying lark recorded here his second successive appearance at the World Championship.
A year ago he reached the last 16 with a win against Day in round one and how he’d love to get another win under his belt in Sheffield.
His 10-1 against Adam Duffy on Judgment Day means he denies the first-ever player from Sheffield of reaching the Crucible but being based out of the steel city himself, this will feel very much like home for him too.
Xiao has had a strong season moving up to number 25 in the world rankings including three quarter-finals since the turn of the year.
Jamie Jones
The Welshman has only returned to the Crucible once since storming to the last eight on his debut in 2012.
There was no messing him as he booked his place with an excellent 10-0 hammering of Liang Wenbo on Judgement Day in one of the shocks of the final round.
This was an impressive response after he fell over the line to beat China’s Yu DeLu 10-7 in the previous round having led 9-1 and looking like he might be on the wrong end of one of the most dramatic comebacks in qualifying history.
Jones looked destined for great things in the game after beating Shaun Murphy in his first ever match at the Crucible six years ago but, despite being a mainstay on the tour since, he may feel as though he has under-achieved slightly. A return to Sheffield could be just what he needs to kick-start a climb up the rankings from his current position of 51.
