The 2026 International Championship qualifiers have been played over the past three days and here is what happened as reported by WST:
International Championship Qualifiers Day One
Kyren Wilson narrowly avoided a massive shock defeat in the International Championship qualifying round as he came from 5-2 down to beat world number 89 Leone Crowley 6-5.
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Former World Champion Wilson survived a tense deciding frame and booked his place in the final stages of the £825,000 world ranking event in Nanjing.
Ireland’s Crowley looked favourite to score the biggest win of his career when he took five of the first seven frames with a top run of 94, though Wilson did make the highest break of the event so far with a superb 142 in the third. Crowley then had chances in each of the last four frames but was unable to get over the line.
Trailing 53-35 in the decider, Crowley attempted a difficult thin cut on the final yellow to a baulk corner, but it stayed in the jaws and a relieved Wilson was able to add the points he needed.
Jimmy White scored one of his best wins in recent seasons as he beat Matthew Stevens 6-5. White, age 64, built a 5-2 lead with a top break of 104 before Stevens fought back to 5-5. The Whirlwind then dominated the last frame to secure a trip to China.
African champion Mina Awad, playing only his second professional match, enjoyed a 6-1 victory over Zak Surety. David Grace fired breaks of 135, 103 and 117 in a 6-5 win over Tom Ford, while Neil Robertson cruised to a 6-0 success over Alexander Ursenbacher with top runs of 105 and 100.
China’s Huang Jiahao top scored with 103 as he came from 5-3 down to edge out Jimmy Robertson 6-5, while Barry Hawkins eased to a 6-0 whitewash of Oliver Sykes with a top run of 85. Gao Yang won a thrilling tussle against Jordan Brown 6-5, making breaks of 73, 125, 98, 105, 83 and 51, and taking the decider by potting the last pink and black.
Yao Pengcheng maintained his impressive form in qualifiers this season as he beat Elliot Slessor 6-2 with a top break of 83, while Stephen Maguire made a crucial break of 73 in the deciding frame to beat Mateusz Baranowski 6-5. Zhang Anda, who won this title in 2023, saw off Artemijs Zizins 6-0 with a top break of 72. Jak Jones, player of the season so far with two ranking titles under his belt, beat Liam Pullen 6-3 with a top run of 108.
International Championship Qualifiers Day Two
Mark Williams maintained his fine recent form as he made a century and five more breaks over 50 in a 6-4 victory over Andrew Higginson to qualify for the final stages of the International Championship.
Williams enjoyed a tremendous run to the final of last week’s English Open, becoming the oldest ranking finalist for 40 years, and after defeat to Ali Carter on that occasion the 51-year-old got back to winning ways today as he booked his passage to Nanjing. Runs of 100, 58, 80, 54, 98 and 83 helped Williams get the better of a high quality tussle.
Fellow ‘Class of 92’ member John Higgins also progressed with a 6-2 win over Craig Steadman, making breaks of 50, 62, 75, 128, 53 and 79. China Open champion Mark Selby was in excellent shape in a 6-1 thrashing of Luo Zetao, compiling runs of 54, 70, 72, 51, 71 and 121.
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh won a Thai derby against Chatchapong Nasa 6-0 with a top run of 111, while talented tour rookie Wang Xinbo beat David Gilbert 6-4 with a top break of 94. Ashley Carty edged out Jack Lisowski 6-5, taking the decider by potting the blue and pink.
Dylan Emery enjoyed a 6-4 win over Xiao Guodong, winning the last five frames with a top break of 105. Luca Brecel’s upturn in form continued as he beat Jamie Clarke 6-3, while India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha made a 114 in a 6-1 success against Deng Haohui.
International Championship Qualifiers Day Three
Shaun Murphy recovered a 3-0 deficit to beat Zhao Hanyang 6-4 in the qualifying round of the International Championship.
World number seven Murphy looked in danger of a surprise defeat when he lost the first three frames against 83-ranked Zhao, who made a break of 107 in the third. But Murphy fought back to take six of the next seven, scoring runs of 78, 74, 77 and 59, as he booked his place in the final stages of this world ranking event in Nanjing.
Anton Kazakov scored the best win of his career so far as he knocked out new English Open champion Ali Carter 6-2. Ukraine’s 21-year-old Kazakov fired breaks of 72, 69, 64, 54 and 69.
Joe O’Connor came through a tough test against Bai Yulu, winning 6-5 with a top break of 100. Gary Wilson came from 2-0 down to see off Onyee Ng 6-2 with a top run of 97. Wuhan Open champion Chang Bingyu whitewashed Fergal Quinn 6-0 with breaks of 54, 73, 79, 81, 93 and 50.
Stan Moody top scored with 76 in a 6-0 win over Panchaya Channoi, while in-form Liam Davies made a 108 in a 6-1 thrashing of Anthony McGill.
As always, all the detailed results are available on snooker.org
I will not even try to analyse all these results, it would be boring and unproductive.
Just some observations …
- In this event, other than three matches against wildcards at the venue, all qualifying matches were seen as “round 2” matches, meaning that the losers get something for their efforts which is only right. They played, they brought value to the tournament and the sponsors, they should get something for it. I’m not sure whether this is a “trick” by WPBSA/WST to go around Hearn’s idea that losers should get nothing, but if it is … bravo!
- Among those “losers” is Bai Yulu who pushed Joe O’Connor to a decider. She is ranked 126th, he is ranked 30th. It was certainly a “worthy” effort, deserving of some remuneration.
- Young Liam Davies, 20 years old, beat Anthony McGill by 6-1 ! I know that McGill struggles to motivate himself fully for those soulless qualifiers but it is a very good result for the youngster all the same.
- The “gentle giant” David Grace beat Tom Ford in a deciding frame. I didn’t see the match but it was probably a very entertaining one: they played eleven frames and, in the process, Tom scored breaks of 98, 77, 55 and 53 and David scored breaks of 135, 103, 117, 61 and 60. In the absence of fans, the flies who were lucky to be present around the table were thrilled, I’m sure…
… and today … we move to another set of qualifiers!