Andrew Norman, Adam Wicheard book main tour spots beating Chen Zhe and Fraser Patrick at Q School
Englishmen Andrew Norman and Adam Wicheard have grabbed their spots in the main tour of the 2011-12 season after they defeated Chen Zhe and Fraser Patrick respectively in their quarter-final clashes at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
Finland’s Robin Hull and the Englishman David Grace have already qualified for the main tour.
Andrew Norman 4-3 Chen Zhe
The Norman-Zhe quarter-final encounter was a thrilling clash that ended in a decider frame with Norman emerging as the winner. The best-of-seven frames match was a seesaw affair until the end of the last frame as both players struggled to give their best
to get the lead during the match.
However, in reply to Norman’s small break of 32, the Chinese stumbled upon the table with a stunning half-century break of 52 to take an early 1-0 lead. Norman, on the other hand, bounced back brilliantly in the second frame and took it in one visit firing
a superb knock of 73.
After the scores were levelled at 2-2, a couple of rattling knocks of 68 and 56 brought Norman one frame up at 3-2 followed by Zhe’s 42 clearance to pull level again at 3-3. The Bristolian Norman took the last frame easily after potting a 39-point break.
“Today was the best I have played all week,” said Norman. “In most of the matches I was only playing 40 per cent, but today it was more like 80 per cent. My experience got me through. It's such a good feeling to be back on the tour.”
Adam Wicheard 4-1 Fraser Patrick
The Trowbridge potter Wicheard had a tremendous event at Q School and played with all his strength in the quarter-final clash against the Scotsman Fraser Patrick to qualify for the main tour of the 2011-12 season.
The 25-year-old Wicheard took the first three frames with relative ease firing some superb clearances of 35, 52, 54 and 79 to lead with 3-0 in the match. A 34-point break brought Patrick one frame up against Wicheard who grabbed the fifth frame easily by
74-15 to win the quarter-final as well as the tour card for the upcoming season.
“Last season was poor, I was disappointed with the way I played,” said Wicheard. “This time I will work harder with my coach, Frank Adamson, and try to improve. At least last season gave me a lot of match experience.”
The next event of Qualifying School will run from Tuesday, May 17 – 22, 2011 at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield to pick four more tour card winners for the season.
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