John Higgins and Neil Robertson had been among the many marquee names who certified for the Xi’an Grand Prix on Thursday in Leicester.
The pair of former world champions secured respective 5-2 triumphs over Alexander Ursenbacher and Allan Taylor.
Each gamers have endured troublesome intervals of their careers of late, with Higgins nearly clinging on to a spot among the many high 16 of the world rankings.
Robertson has lengthy since misplaced his membership throughout the elite bracket and will likely be hoping to bounce again this time period having did not qualify for final season’s World Championship in Sheffield.
There have been wins for a number of of the opposite heavy hitters in motion on day one as effectively.
Jack Lisowski and Hossein Vafaei recorded 5-1 victories whereas David Gilbert matched that scoreline in his defeat of Reanne Evans.
Ryan Day had a a lot more durable time of it, the Welshman compelled to win the final three frames to pip rookie Cheung Ka Wai in a decider – the latter having compiled a hat-trick of tons to guide 4-2.
Among the many others to qualify for the venue levels in China subsequent month had been two of the game’s rising stars from Europe, although.
Hungary’s Révész Bulcsú produced a nice show to energy previous David Grace, the 17 year-old whitewashing the skilled competitor on the Mattioli Enviornment.
“It was pretty much as good because it might be I believe,” the assured WSF world junior champion informed the World Snooker Tour.
“I used to be taking part in so courageous however good as effectively. I knew after I needed to play security, and I knew after I needed to assault. Every part was excellent.”
“The primary yr is concerning the enchancment, to get used to the circumstances. Each win is a bonus I really feel like.
“Each time I lose, I’m going to be taught from it. So enchancment first yr, and the second yr goes to be the more durable one.
“However in fact I wish to win matches on a regular basis after I get to the desk.”
Artemijs Žižins of Latvia, who like Révész is competing on the primary tour for the primary time this season, additionally superior with a 5-2 victory over Robbie Williams.
Elsewhere, He Guoqiang – who received the Rookie of the Yr award final season – fought again from behind to beat Ashley Carty 5-4.
Veteran former Masters and UK champion Matthew Stevens thrashed Andrew Higginson 5-0.
Among the many others to soundly make it by had been Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Xiao Guodong, Jordan Brown, and Dominic Dale.
The Xi’an Grand Prix qualifiers proceed on Friday with the likes of Mark Williams, Luca Brecel, and Ali Carter competing.
2024 Xi’an Grand Prix qualifying draw and schedule
Spherical of 128 (bo9)
Thursday, July 25
He Guoqiang 5-4 Ashley Carty
Fan Zhengyi 2-5 Sunny Akani
Jamie Jones 5-2 Mostafa Dorgham
Martin O’Donnell 3-5 Ma Hailong
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-3 Lei Peifan
Scott Donaldson w/o Lim Kok Leong
Xiao Guodong 5-2 Iulian Boiko
John Higgins 5-2 Alexander Ursenbacher
David Grace 0-5 Révész Bulcsú
Joshua Thomand 3-5 Amir Sarkhosh
Robbie Williams 3-5 Artemijs Zizins
Jordan Brown 5-2 Liam Pullen
Simon Blackwell 4-5 Ben Mertens
Ryan Day 5-4 Cheung Ka Wai
Neil Robertson 5-2 Allan Taylor
Hossein Vafaei 5-1 Ahmed Aly Elsayed
Jackson Web page 2-5 Dylan Emery
Jack Lisowski 5-1 Ross Muir
David Gilbert 5-1 Reanne Evans
Dominic Dale 5-4 Mohammed Shehab
Matthew Stevens 5-0 Andrew Higginson
Friday, July 26
10am UTC+1
Elliot Slessor vs Manasawin Phetmalaikul
Chris Wakelin vs Rory Thor
Xu Si vs Jiang Jun
Yuan Sijun vs Bai Yulu
Anthony Hamilton vs Gong Chenchi
Tian Pengfei vs Farakh Ajaib
Joe Perry vs Mink Nutcharut
2:30pm UTC+1
Tom Ford vs Stan Moody
Joe O’Connor vs Duane Jones
Sanderson Lam vs Zak Surety
Luca Brecel vs Hammad Miah
Jak Jones vs Robbie McGuigan
Wu Yize vs Stuart Carrington
Pang Junxu vs Michael Holt
7pm UTC+1
Ricky Walden vs Liam Davies
Mark Williams vs Liam Graham
Matthew Selt vs Ian Burns
Ali Carter vs Daniel Wells
Barry Hawkins vs Kreishh Gurbaxani
David Lilley vs Louis Heathcote
Saturday, July 27
10am UTC+1
Anthony McGill vs Xing Zihao
Jimmy Robertson vs Huang Jiahao
Mark Davis vs Ishpreet Singh Chadha
Lyu Haotian vs Baipat Siripaporn
Noppon Saengkham vs Andrew Pagett
Ben Woollaston vs Julien Leclercq
Zhou Yuelong vs Haydon Pinhey
2:30pm UTC+1
Robert Milkins vs Dean Younger
Si Jiahui vs Jimmy White
Judd Trump vs Antoni Kowalski
Gary Wilson vs Lengthy Zehuang
Aaron Hill vs Chris Totten
Shaun Murphy vs Mitchell Mann
Stephen Maguire vs Ken Doherty
Heldover Matches
Monday, August 19
Kyren Wilson vs Haris Tahir
Stuart Bingham vs Wildcard
Ding Junhui vs Alfie Burden
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Wang Yuchen
Zhang Anda vs Oliver Strains
Graeme Dott vs Wildcard
Mark Selby vs Wildcard
Jamie Clarke vs Wildcard
Mark Allen vs Liu Hongyu
The best way to watch the Xi’an Grand Prix qualifiers
Whereas there isn’t any entry for followers on the venue for the Xi’an Grand Prix qualifiers, supporters in Europe can watch the snooker on-line without cost.
All three days of motion can be found to observe without cost on the World Snooker Tour Fb web page.
In China, protection is on the market on Huya.com whereas followers in all different territories can watch through a subscription on Matchroom.Reside.
Featured picture credit score: WST
