World Under-21 Snooker
Former IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Champion Robin Hull has qualified for next year's Malta Cup with a 5-3 defeat of England's Andy Hicks. The 31-year-old from Finland, who had claimed earlier qualifying victories over England's Adam Davies and Adrian Gunnell at the World Snooker Centre @ Pontin's in Prestatyn Sands, Wales, faced an in-form Andy Hicks in the fourth and final qualifying round and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead which included a break of 120. Hicks hit back to trail 3-2, but Hull nudged further closer to that place in Malta when he secured frame six for a 4-2 advantage. The Englishman then clawed another frame back before Hull comprehensively sealed the eighth frame for a much needed victory, and a first round meeting with Steve Davis in Malta when the tournament gets underway on 30 January next year. Neil Robertson Australia's Neil Robertson is another former IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Champion to advance into the first round draw in Malta, as the 23-year-old came back from a perilous 4-1 deficit to defeat England's Dave Harold 5-4. The reigning IBSF World Snooker Champion Mark Allen has kept up his 100% success rate in qualifying events this season as he gained revenge on England's David Gray for his defeat in last month's Grand Prix with the 19-year-old from Antrim in Northern Ireland recording a 5-2 success. Two further former IBSF World Snooker Champions were also successful in the qualifying for next year's Malta Cup, with China Hong Kong's Marco Fu negotiating a 5-4 win over England's Mark Davis, and Thailand's James Wattana received a timely boost to his season as the 35-year-old from Bangkok wrapped up a 5-2 victory over Ireland's Michael Judge with a break of 100.
Former IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Champion Robin Hull has qualified for next year's Malta Cup with a 5-3 defeat of England's Andy Hicks. The 31-year-old from Finland, who had claimed earlier qualifying victories over England's Adam Davies and Adrian Gunnell at the World Snooker Centre @ Pontin's in Prestatyn Sands, Wales, faced an in-form Andy Hicks in the fourth and final qualifying round and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead which included a break of 120. Hicks hit back to trail 3-2, but Hull nudged further closer to that place in Malta when he secured frame six for a 4-2 advantage. The Englishman then clawed another frame back before Hull comprehensively sealed the eighth frame for a much needed victory, and a first round meeting with Steve Davis in Malta when the tournament gets underway on 30 January next year. Neil Robertson Australia's Neil Robertson is another former IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Champion to advance into the first round draw in Malta, as the 23-year-old came back from a perilous 4-1 deficit to defeat England's Dave Harold 5-4. The reigning IBSF World Snooker Champion Mark Allen has kept up his 100% success rate in qualifying events this season as he gained revenge on England's David Gray for his defeat in last month's Grand Prix with the 19-year-old from Antrim in Northern Ireland recording a 5-2 success. Two further former IBSF World Snooker Champions were also successful in the qualifying for next year's Malta Cup, with China Hong Kong's Marco Fu negotiating a 5-4 win over England's Mark Davis, and Thailand's James Wattana received a timely boost to his season as the 35-year-old from Bangkok wrapped up a 5-2 victory over Ireland's Michael Judge with a break of 100.