Duo book Shanghai slot

Doherty: Shanghai qualifier

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Former world champions Graeme Dott and Ken Doherty booked their places in the first ranking event of the season with wins in the final round of qualifying for the Shanghai Masters in September.

Both Dott and Doherty are forced to make the trip to Prestatyn for the tough qualifying events this year after sliding down the world rankings in recent years.

The former Crucible champions will both be making the trip to China in September however, after they both edged tight 5-4 victories in North Wales.

Dott, out of the top 16 for the first time in nine years, trailed 4-1 against Jimmy Robertson before breaks of 113 and 72 fired him to a four-frame burst to take him into the tournament proper after a fine comeback.

1997 world champion Doherty was involved in a marathon scrap with fellow Dubliner Fergal O'Brien before he won 5-4 after playing for over four hours.

Dale bumped out

2007 Shanghai winner Dominic Dale will miss out on a return to China after he was beaten 5-4 by 1995 Crucible runner-up Nigel Bond, despite the Welshman leading 3-1 after a tournament-high break of 138.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis was a big-name casualty as Mathew Selt beat the veteran 5-4 to record the biggest victory of his career - with a 105 break helping him to reach the last 32 of a ranking event for the first time.

Stephen Lee survived a strong fight-back from Lee Spick to go through 5-3, while Sussex cueman Stuart Bingham beat Mark Davis 5-2 and Gerard Greene was a 5-3 winner over Martin Gould.

Matthew Stevens strolled through with a 5-1 success against Patrick Wallace, and Welsh Open runner-up Joe Swail started his season with a 5-1 win over Adrian Gunnell.

Widnes potter Andrew Higginson will be another first-timer in China after he defeated veteran Dave Harold 5-2

Drained

"I had a lot of run of the ball, everything I hit went in or safe," Higginson said. "I'm absolutely drained. Dave's safety play is different class."

"China is one of those places you'd love to go to, I'll be making the most of it."

Mark King was forced to make the trip to Prestatyn despite being in the top 16, as reigning Shanghai Masters champion Ricky Walden is the top seed for the event despite being ranked outside world's elite.

King moved down to 17 in the seedings and he endured a real battle in North Wales as he won a final-frame decider against Stuart Pettman to go through 5-4.

Jamie Cope will hope to emulate his 147 from last year's Shanghai Masters as he returns to the event following a comprehensive 5-0 whitewash of Anthony Hamilton.

Michael Holt was tested but beat Jamie Burnett 5-4, while Marcus Campbell put out well-fancied teenager Judd Trump.