Davis set for Ding

Davis: UK tilt

It's just nice to be back at a tournament and hopefully this win is the start of a good run for me. When you keep losing it does affect your confidence. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

Ken Doherty
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Snooker Schedule
• World Rankings
• Snooker DVDs

Steve Davis booked a first round date with Ding Junhui at the UK Championship in Telford after edging through the qualifiers, along with former world champion Ken Doherty and rising star Judd Trump.

Veteran Davis faced Ding in the 2005 UK final, where he lost 10-6, and he will now get the chance for revenge after edging out Adrian Gunnell 9-7 in the last round of qualifying.

51-year-old Davis denied Telford potter Gunnell the chance of playing in front of his home fans with one break of 100 and knocks of 92, 87 and 75 doing the damage.

The Nugget has won through to two raking event quarter-finals so far in a fine season, as he looks to break back into the top 16 in the world rankings.

Teenager Judd Trump goes from strength to strength and he made it five out of five for ranking events as he qualified for the final stages in Telford by beating Michael Judge.

Top Trump

Dubliner Judge had led 3-1 but six frames on the bounce and a clinching break of 106 but Bristol 19-year-old Trump into a first round match with Mark King at the UK Championship.

Trump has now qualified for all the ranking events so far this season, whilst he also made it through the tough qualifying competition to make the Masters in January.

Three-time UK finalist Ken Doherty enjoyed a much-needed boost by qualifying for a ranking event again, after beating Liu Chuang 9-4 to book a clash with fellow former world champion Graeme Dott.

"It's just nice to be back at a tournament and hopefully this win is the start of a good run for me," said Doherty.

"When you keep losing it does affect your confidence. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

"I can't wait to play in the UK, it's a great tournament and I really want to do well there."

Qualifers

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan will play Rory McLeod in the first game of his defence, after McLeod came through a marathon against Dave Harold with a 9-6 victory.

Qatar-based McLeod hit breaks of 111, 81 and 63 along the way to victory, in a game which included one frame which lasted just over an hour.

Jamie Cope suffered a shock defeat against Jamie Burnett, with the Scotsman coming out on top with a 9-7, thanks to five half-century breaks.

Joe Swail won a tense 9-8 battle with Liang Wenbo 9-8 to win a match against John Higgins, while Stephen Lee will play Stephen Hendry after a 9-6 win over Andy Hicks.

Michael Holt beat Fergal O'Brien 9-4 to book a date with multiple ranking event winner Neil Robertson, while part-time casino croupier Martin Gould held all the aces as he beat Dominic Dale 9-6, to set-up a match with Shaun Murphy.