Li Yan beats David Gray to qualify for main tour – 2011 World Snooker Q Snooker
The 19-year-old Li Yan has beaten David Gray by a frame score of 4-1 in the best-of-seven frames quarter-final match of the Event 2 of this season’s World Snooker Q School.
This event is being staged at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
Former Scottish Open champion David Gray, who outplayed the likes of Gareth Allen, Brijesh Damani and Li Hang in the second, third and fourth rounds respectively, has stuttered on the last hurdle. The Chinese teenager Li Yan on the same note produced high
standards of game to secure a place on the professional circuit.
The overall score-line between both players was 0-80 (63); 79 (79)-0; 70 (54)-36; 63-47; 78-1.
The heavily favourite for the match David Gray could just manage to escape a whitewash, as Yan was almost invincible throughout the match.
Though the Englishman Gray started off in a straight forward fashion by knocking in a classy break of 63 in the opening frame to draw the first blood 1-0, he lost the following four in a row.
Yan showed no reeling effects and responded straightaway with an overwhelming break of 79 in the following second frame to level the things at 1-1. In the third frame, Gray was the first one to be among the balls but he lost his nerves breaking down on 36
and when the chance presented itself, Yan slotted a superb break of 54 to go in front at 2-1.
The following fourth and fifth frames were scrappy affairs. A lot of safety play was seen from the players but in the end, it was again the Chinese who came on top to seal an impressive 4-1 win.
“I will try my best and my aim will be to stay on the tour,” Li Yan said through an interpreter. “I'm very happy now, of course. I didn't play my best in this event, but I was confident. David Gray is a good player but I felt that I could beat him.”
Yan has never been on the pro circuit before and this is going to be his first time ever.
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