Jamie Clarke came through an epic 49-minute deciding frame to beat David Gilbert 6-5 and reach the final stages of the MrQ UK Championship.
Matthew Selt, Anthony McGill and Jamie Jones also made it through Judgement Day and they will be in Thursday’s draw for the last 32 in York, which starts on Saturday.
Welshman Clarke came from 4-2 down to lead 5-4, before Gilbert recovered to 5-5. A scrappy decider came down to the last red, and Clarke converted an excellent pot to a baulk corner to set up a winning clearance. The world number 60 has fond memories of this tournament last year as he beat Mark Williams in York to reach the last 16.
He said: “From start to finish it was a terrible game tonight. I wasn’t even nervous, I handled it well but the game was just awful. I just scraped over the line with a good clearance when my heart was pumping. We are all trying to make ourselves proud and make our families proud. A big tournament like this can change your life.”
Selt was up against Lyu Haotian – the same opponent he beat in the final of the Indian Open in 2017 – and came through 6-3 with a top break of 71.
Essex cueman Selt said: “Lyu is a hard cookie to break down, he has improved a lot since I played him in the final in India. Tactically I just got the better of him and tried to keep him in his chair. I feel I am scoring more heavily than I have ever done so to have that combined with my safety is very nice. This is like a separate tournament which finishes with 16 winners who get to go to York, which is one of my favourite venues. I am trending in the right direction and I’m going to enjoy it.”
Jones scored a 6-4 win over Zak Surety, who missed out on what would have been his biggest ever win. Surety made a 69 to lead 4-3, but Welshman Jones battled through the last three frames.
“The standard was outstanding, I played as well as I have all season and made important clearances,” said former Crucible quarter-finalist Jones. “I didn’t back down from any shot, I went for it at the end.
“This is a big prize for everyone. We are all playing for different reasons – some are trying to stay on tour, some of us are trying to get in the World Grand Prix and others just want to get to York. I haven’t been there for a few years so it’s great to be back. I have got prize money and points on the board and I think I’ll be dangerous at the venue.”
Two-time ranking event winner McGill top scored with 92 in a 6-2 win over Anthony Hamilton. The Glaswegian said: “It was a battle and a much closer game than the scoreline suggests. I knew I had to dig in and try hard because I knew I wouldn’t get any easy chances.”
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