It's incredibly tough to tell who is going to end up coming through those with so many good amateur players and former professionals playing for so few spots which makes it all the more exciting as the final day of event one showed. Rhys Clark was taking on Leo Fernandez in the final round while Sydney Wilson played Chen Zhe who was on tour himself only a season ago, while Eden Sharav played a high quality affair with Adam Duffy, who was in the same boat as Chen and Daniel Wells who had also only been off of tour a season beat Alexander Ursenbacher who was still a professional.
Courtesy of Colin Bell here are match reports from all of the tour card matches from Tuesday morning:
Rhys Clark 4-1 Leo Fernandez -
This wasn’t a very startling match, in the opening frame, a few small breaks from Leo, however Rhys responds with a 38 and nice 63 to take the opening frame 1-0. In the next frame Rhys was in control, starting off with a 25 and then completing the frame with a 59 to lead 2-0. A couple of small breaks from each player in the next, Rhys takes a lead, but can only allow Leo back when he’s 61 behind with 59 left on. Leo tries for snookers but fails and it’s soon 3-0. The closest frame was next, Leo starts off with a 44 break before playing safe, Rhys plays a good snooker between blue and pink, two misses from Leo gives Rhys a chance. With a frame winning chance Rhys misses a black and gives Leo a chance to pull one back which he does to move only 3-1 behind. A 39 comes from Leo early in the fifth, a few points follow for both players. Leo then gives Clark a chance before Rhys misses a double. It then looked like Leo could claim another frame but he was unable to capitalise. Once Rhys was given another chance he finished off the match to claim a 4-1 win. A very reserved celebration from Rhys, but smiles all over his face as he’s on the main tour after a 3rd attempt at Q school.
Sydney Wilson 4-1 Chen Zhe -
In the opener a 38 from Chen was followed by 37 in response from Sydney, but Wilson lets Chen back in and finishes off with a 55 to win the first frame and go 1-0 in front. Sydney starts off with a good lead in the next, but on a break he misses and gives 7 away. Chen gets in next before fouling himself letting Sydney back in. A nice yellow secures the frame for him levelling at 1-1. After a few small breaks and a bit of safety play from both players, the black ends up over the left corner pocket with many reds surrounding it in frame three, each player trying to force an error. Sydney makes the error potting the black, but Chen is unable to capitalise on the opportunity. After further chances for both, a cracking green from Wilson puts him into the lead 1-2. The next frame sees early chances for both yet again, Sydney comes through in the end with a 30+ break to go within one frame at 1-3. In the next, a nice long red from Wilson gets him in but at 23 he falls out of position, a few more points are added to go 59 ahead with 51 on the table and Chen is unable to get the snookers he needs to prevent a brilliant 4-1 victory for Sydney Wilson. Sydney Wilson (the first one through on the day) is quickly congratulated by a good crowd of fellow players and supporters.
In the opener a 38 from Chen was followed by 37 in response from Sydney, but Wilson lets Chen back in and finishes off with a 55 to win the first frame and go 1-0 in front. Sydney starts off with a good lead in the next, but on a break he misses and gives 7 away. Chen gets in next before fouling himself letting Sydney back in. A nice yellow secures the frame for him levelling at 1-1. After a few small breaks and a bit of safety play from both players, the black ends up over the left corner pocket with many reds surrounding it in frame three, each player trying to force an error. Sydney makes the error potting the black, but Chen is unable to capitalise on the opportunity. After further chances for both, a cracking green from Wilson puts him into the lead 1-2. The next frame sees early chances for both yet again, Sydney comes through in the end with a 30+ break to go within one frame at 1-3. In the next, a nice long red from Wilson gets him in but at 23 he falls out of position, a few more points are added to go 59 ahead with 51 on the table and Chen is unable to get the snookers he needs to prevent a brilliant 4-1 victory for Sydney Wilson. Sydney Wilson (the first one through on the day) is quickly congratulated by a good crowd of fellow players and supporters.
Daniel Wells 4-1 Alexander Ursenbacher -
The first frame exhibits a few missed chances for both players, prior to Alex getting an opportunity but after missing a red to the corner, Dan completes what he needs to, to lead 1-0. A 36 from Alex starts frame two, before he runs out of position. Wells then follows up with a couple of breaks but is out of position on the last red and he gives a chance to Alex, yet he’s unable to capitalise and a long yellow secures the frame for Daniel at 2-0. In the next, a small break from Alex starts things off but a response of 63 from Wells essentially puts him to within one frame leading 3-0. Alex starts off the next frame with a good long red, but runs out of position very quickly, and after a few more points are scored Wells is in the lead in the frame he needs. Alex manages to clear the colours forcing a re-spotted black and he wins it to pull one back and stay in the match 1-3 adrift. In the next it is Wells though who has his chance to win it, and given his opportunity he makes a superb 120 break and at the winning point he gives a fist pump to his dad and is through Q School again with an impressive 4-1 win.
The first frame exhibits a few missed chances for both players, prior to Alex getting an opportunity but after missing a red to the corner, Dan completes what he needs to, to lead 1-0. A 36 from Alex starts frame two, before he runs out of position. Wells then follows up with a couple of breaks but is out of position on the last red and he gives a chance to Alex, yet he’s unable to capitalise and a long yellow secures the frame for Daniel at 2-0. In the next, a small break from Alex starts things off but a response of 63 from Wells essentially puts him to within one frame leading 3-0. Alex starts off the next frame with a good long red, but runs out of position very quickly, and after a few more points are scored Wells is in the lead in the frame he needs. Alex manages to clear the colours forcing a re-spotted black and he wins it to pull one back and stay in the match 1-3 adrift. In the next it is Wells though who has his chance to win it, and given his opportunity he makes a superb 120 break and at the winning point he gives a fist pump to his dad and is through Q School again with an impressive 4-1 win.
Eden Sharav 4-3 Adam Duffy -
This match was one of a very high standard. In the first frame, there was a lot of safety play before the first ball was potted, but it was Eden who did and went on to make 103 for a 1-0 advantage. In the second frame it was one-sided again but this time it was Adam who makes a century to level at 1-1. In the third, once again there’s a lot of safety in the beginning, although Eden makes the first mistake yet Duffy isn’t able to capitalise and Sharav makes a tidy 83 to lead the match again at 2-1. In the fourth we had the tightest frame of the match, a 35 break to start off with from Sharav, then trailing by 47, Adam gets back into the frame, but Sharav lays a good snooker by and Duffy gives away severla points, and Eden nicks the frame from the blue to go one away at 3-1. Duffy doesn’t go away though and sticks in there making a good response, with a 93 followed by a 70 to force a decider in very impressive fashion. By this time this is now the only match waiting to finish and the small crowd gathers to watch. The early frame points are shared between both players, with Eden taking a small early lead. A few chances are missed as you’d expect with the pressure of the situation. Then Eden manages a good snooker behind the green close to the baulk cushion, by which Adam is perplexed and is unable to get out of easily, conceding 12 points and then allowing Eden to finish off the match potting the final red and the Scot is visibly happy as he is on the tour for the first time with a hard fought 4-3 victory.
This match was one of a very high standard. In the first frame, there was a lot of safety play before the first ball was potted, but it was Eden who did and went on to make 103 for a 1-0 advantage. In the second frame it was one-sided again but this time it was Adam who makes a century to level at 1-1. In the third, once again there’s a lot of safety in the beginning, although Eden makes the first mistake yet Duffy isn’t able to capitalise and Sharav makes a tidy 83 to lead the match again at 2-1. In the fourth we had the tightest frame of the match, a 35 break to start off with from Sharav, then trailing by 47, Adam gets back into the frame, but Sharav lays a good snooker by and Duffy gives away severla points, and Eden nicks the frame from the blue to go one away at 3-1. Duffy doesn’t go away though and sticks in there making a good response, with a 93 followed by a 70 to force a decider in very impressive fashion. By this time this is now the only match waiting to finish and the small crowd gathers to watch. The early frame points are shared between both players, with Eden taking a small early lead. A few chances are missed as you’d expect with the pressure of the situation. Then Eden manages a good snooker behind the green close to the baulk cushion, by which Adam is perplexed and is unable to get out of easily, conceding 12 points and then allowing Eden to finish off the match potting the final red and the Scot is visibly happy as he is on the tour for the first time with a hard fought 4-3 victory.
Meanwhile here are Colin's final thoughts on what was an eventful first round of Q School and the overall feel of things:
"So there you have it, two Scots, a Welshman and an Englishman on tour, show the UK still very much dominating Q School. In general there was a pretty high standard and all of those guys deserved to be on tour again or for the first time. There was a professional feel to the tournament and with experienced world snooker personnel looking in every now and then it was all carried out properly and orderly.
There seems to be mixed opinions about
whether the Q school format is an acceptable way for people to get on tour, the
main one being whether it should be seeded, with it being very random how the
players are assigned. However other players enjoy Q school, as even if you don’t
get on the tour and you are high on the Order of Merit you will get regular
chances to play in some of the tournaments. Also, after being knocked out in
Event 1 should there be a re-scheduling in Event 2? It’s hard to say if best of
7’s with up to 6 matches being played over a week is the best system?
All in all I was impressed with the venue
and the organisation and seeing the emotions of those winning and losing was
interesting to watch. This was the first time for the Q school to be held in
Burton, and from many of the players it was positive much preferred than the Cubicle
set-up in Sheffield. Well done to Rhys Clark, Eden Sharav, Sydney Wilson and
Daniel Wells and good luck to all those taking part in Event 2 of Q School."
I think that is a fair assessment of things after event one and the set up in Burton appears to be popular with many, although last round defeats didn't seem to go down too well with Adam Duffy who seemed to be hinting at offensive comments towards Eden Sharav indirectly. Other than that there was no real controversy and everything was played out in good spirits so i'm looking forward to event two producing similar. Also, I would just like to thank Colin Bell again for his match reports and opinions on the first event, and I hope you've all enjoyed reading them.
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