Judd Trump came from behind to beat Rory McLeod in Welsh Open qualifying, where veterans Ken Doherty and Steve Davis both lost.
Left-hander fights back to beat McLeod, Davis and Doherty dumped out
Judd Trump produced a stirring fightback to beat Rory McLeod to a place in the Welsh Open, as veterans Ken Doherty and Steve Davis both lost out in qualifying.
20-year-old Trump trailed 4-2 against McLeod but a sizziling break of 127 sparked his comeback, and he took the next on the black to level the match before taking the decider with a clinical 83.
Trump's reward is a place in the first round proper of the Welsh Open in Newport which starts on Monday, where he will face Masters champion Mark Selby.
A sign of the times these days saw two former world champions forced to scrap it out in Prestatyn's qualifying tournament for a Welsh Open place, with Graeme Dott edging out Ken Doherty 5-3.
Scotsman Dott raced into a 4-1 lead despite his highest break being just 33. Doherty brought it back to 4-3 with knocks of 77 and 69 but Dott secured the win with a 54 in the ninth.
Nugget beaten
Snooker legend Steve Davis missed his chance to make the tournament as home hope Dominic Dale secured a 5-2 victory over the two-time Welsh Open winner.
Dale will now provide the home crowd with another local hero to cheer on, despite him now living in Vienna, as he plays Stephen Maguire in Newport's first round.
The ever-popular Tony Drago is back in the business end of a ranking event for the first time since 2007 after he beat Gerard Greene 5-2 to set-up a clash with Ryan Day.
"It feels like the last time I got to a venue was before World War Two," joked the Tornado. "I will be excited and a bit nervous because I will not be used to the surroundings.
"I don't want to get carried away because I'm just winning a few matches. I'm enjoying my snooker and playing really well."
2006 winner Stephen Lee will not be back at the venue after he lost 5-3 against Andrew Higginson, while last year's beaten finalist Joe Swail also missed out after as 5-4 defeat against Mark Davis.
Stuart Bingham will play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round after his qualifying victory over Anthony Hamilton, while Jamie Cope beat Alan McManus and Michael Judge defeated China's Liang Wenbo.
