Rory McLeod ends Jimmy White’s hopes, David Gilbert moves to final qualifier: 2011 Australian Goldfields Open
Last round of 2011 Australian Goldfields Open qualifying session is under way at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield. Rory McLeod has made it to the fourth round qualifiers, ending Jimmy White’s
qualifying hopes in the process, on June 29 at the academy. David Gilbert, Q School pro ticket winner, has also surged into his final qualifier.
The People’s Champion, Jimmy White set a clash with Rory McLeod after he ousted Paul Davison in the second round qualification by the scoreline of 5-2. White’s hopes to qualify for the televised stages
of 2011 Australian Goldfields Open ended when McLeod stopped his run and nudged him down by 5-3 in third round on Wednesday, June 29.
The 40-year-old McLeod was 2-3 down to White when he sprang back into the game and clinched the next three frames. The cueman from Northamptonshire, McLeod fired a couple of stunning knocks of 91
and 60 to book his place in the ultimate qualifier against Robert Milkins.
McLeod qualified for Betfred.com World Snooker Championship 2011 and reached the Last-16 of the mega event. However, the player crashed out at the hands of current World Snooker Champion, John Higgins,
by 13-7.
On the other hand, David Gilbert has been outstanding during the qualifying session, as he has taken three matches so far to set up a final qualifying match against Mark King. The 30-year-old Gilbert
edged past Passakorn Suwannawat, 5-4, Alfie Burden 5-2 and Dave Harold 5-4 in the previous three rounds.
In his penultimate match, Gilbert potted stunning clearances of 53, 63, 113, 50 and 122 to unsettle his opponent, Harold, who made 67 and 79. Gilbert is one of the Q School pro card winners who have
made it to the final qualification. The Tamworth potter now needs only one victory to play in Last-32 of 2011 Australian Goldfields Open at Bendigo Stadium in Victoria.
The televised stage of the tournament will commence from July 18 to 24. All the big guns of world snooker are ready at Bendigo Stadium arena to battle for the first major ranking event in Australia.
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