16 Qualifiers confirmed.
Jak Jones (19)
Zhang Anda (22)
Ali Carter (23)
Zhou Yuelong (24)
David Gilbert (25)
Gary Wilson (27)
Pang Junxu (29)
Lei Peifan (30)
Hossein Vafaei (32)
Stan Moody (44)
Matthew Stevens (48)
Fan Zhengyi (63)
Anton Kowalski (69)
Liam Pullen (84)
Liam Highfield (90)
Breakdown of 32 players is
13 England
11 China
3 Wales
1 Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, Iran, Poland
I was reading there that Aaron Hill is the highest ranked non-Chinese player in the world, under the age of 30. Hill is ranked 40. There are 11 Chinese players ranked higher than Hill and 8 of those 11 are under the age of 30.
Very few players emerging in the game outside of China.
Thereâs loads of youngfellas on this side of the ocean threatening to break through but the tournaments are so spread out itâs the travelling to the other side of the world is the killer for them⌠that other young cork lad leone Crowley is one youâll be hearing a lot about in the next few yearsâŚ
Jak Jones to do Mark Selby in the first round.
I hereby reserve the right to use the line âVanishing Point for Kowalskiâ if and when the Polish challenger is about to exit the tournament.
Thatâs a great spread of ages there.
When you see an 84 and a 90 year old making it through, it really re-emphasises the fact that Jimmy is going to have many more attempts at this and his best years may well be ahead of him.
At 48 years of age Matthew Stevens is only a whippersnapper. Be good to see a young player like him win this.
Despite their advanced years the Liams are a great example of âif youâre good enough, youâre young enoughâ. Iâm sure PRESIDENT TRUMP will be looking on at their example and thinking he could do another two or three terms at least.
Darling of Dublin Shaun Murphy has a rival on his hands
Zhao is so good to watch
Zhao is beginning to motor.
Lovely lazy natural style.
Highfield battling well here.
Zintong has been very poor
Patchy alright.
Just to add to this⌠Ken Doherty was saying thereâs 2 Chinese snooker academies across the road from each other near the crucible in Sheffield⌠Tis no wonder the Chinese lads are doing so well
Hows that work? They bring them all the way out from china to sheffield to just play among themselves?!
I suppose the people that run the academy sponsor them and facilitate them practicing with other top level players and charge a huge fee for it
Some start from Stan Moody. Was on a 147 but had a second red go in
All seeds are through so far.
John Higgins 7-6 ahead of Russell Henley, I mean Ali Carter.
