Thepchaiya Un Nooh (Photo by By Martin Rulsch)
English 20-year-old Liam Pullen is one win away from a dream Crucible debut, after defeating World Open champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-7 at World Championship qualifying.
Pullen is enjoying a breakthrough season, having reached a maiden ranking quarter-final at the Xi’an Grand Prix. That run included a defeat of four-time World Champion John Higgins.
Having entered the tournament in round one, Pullen has lived life on the edge this week. He was taken to a final frame decider by Shoot Out champion Alfie Burden, prevailing 10-9, and beat Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh 10-7.
This evening he spurned a golden opportunity at 9-6, missing a straighforward red and allowing Un-Nooh to pull within two. However, a steely century run of 105 saw Pullen over the line. It books a Judgement Day meeting with Nopon Saengkham, who beat Ricky Walden 10-6.
Pullen said: “I missed a silly red. I just took my eye off it. I had a strong word with myself. In the end I potted a good long red and thankfully made a good break.
“I’ve got used to the pressure. I’m enjoying it when I’m bang under it. That is a good thing to be able to do and tough. There are a lot of times you don’t enjoy it. I’m going to relish it on Judgement Day though.
“I feel like I sort of belong now, but even then I’m not cocky. It is quite weird hearing my name and Judgement Day. I’ll be doing my best.”
Pullen’s old rival in the English junior ranks Stan Moody earned his first Judgement Day berth with a 10-5 win over Robbie Williams.
19-year-old Moody has himself made two quarter-finals this season and moved up to 44th in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings.
He top scored with 128 today and will face Jiang Jun in the final round. Jiang earned his place with a 10-7 defeat of Elliot Slessor.
A 10-3 win for Jamie Jones over Matthew Selt further cemented the Welshman’s tour status and Jackson Page secured further Welsh success with a 10-6 win over amateur Patrick Whelan.
Jones faces Poland’s Antoni Kowalski, who overcame Joe O’Connor 10-8 to make the final round. Victory would see him become the first Pole to grace the Theatre of Dreams.
Page will meet China’s Pang Junxu, who came through with a nerve-shredding 10-9 win over Dylan Emery.
Magnificent Chang Pockets Bumper Bonus
Scottish Open runner-up Chang Bingyu fired home a 147 break to lead 2023 Crucible king Luca Brecel 5-4 after the first session of their World Championship Qualifying clash and pocket at least £147,000.
Having already composed a maximum in UK Championship qualifying, Chang earns the £147,000 bonus on offer for making two maximums across snooker’s four majors this season.
The 23-year-old is also in line to scoop a further £10,000 for making a 147 in the qualifiers and the £15,000 high break prize for the event. That could potentially take the total payout to £172,000, by far the biggest payday of his career.
There have now been 24 maximums made on the circuit this season, which shatters the previous record of 15. Chang’s contribution is the 241st maximum break in snooker history.
It was the end of a fantastic session of snooker. Chang ended the afternoon with three centuries and two further breaks over 50. They will return tomorrow afternoon from 2:30pm to play the best of 19 match to a conclusion and find out who progresses to Judgement Day.
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
Stan Moody (Eng) bt Robbie Williams (Eng) 10-5
Liam Pullen (Eng) bt Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha) 10-7
Noppon Saengkham (Tha) bt Ricky Walden (Eng) 10-6
Jiang Jun (Chn) bt Elliot Slessor (Eng) 10-7
Jamie Jones (Wal) bt Matthew Selt (Eng) 10-3
Pang Junxu (Chn) bt Dylan Emery (Wal) 10-9
Antoni Kowalski (Pol) bt Joe O’Connor (Eng) 10-8
Jackson Page (Wal) bt Patrick Whelan (Wal) 10-6
