Rory McLeod ousts Barry Hawkins at SWSA to setup clash with John Higgins at 2011 UK Championship
World Number 34 ranked cueist, England’s Rory McLeod, who is the only Muslim snooker player in World Snooker’s professional ranks, made it to the initial stage of this year’s UK Championship, which is the second most prestigious snooker event in the history of the game after the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible arena.
The English Muslim ousted compatriot, Barry Hawkins by the score line of 6-2 in the fifth qualifying round of 2011 UK Championship at South West Snooker Academy, in Gloucester. McLeod will be facing World Snooker Champion and defending champion, Scotland’s John Higgins, in Round 1 of the tournament.
He spoke to reporters about his match and said, “I cued well, I was always in the lead which is another good thing. I was fortunate two frames where I have had a fluke and cleared up. There was a frame where he had fluked a snooker and cleared up so it was a little bit of cashback. 2-1 to me!”
Before facing Hawkins in the fifth qualifier, the 40-year-old went head-to-head with Adam Duffy in the qualifying round 4, where he defeated Duffy by 6-4. The Northamptonshire-based potter has made it to the initial stages of the third major ranking tournament to be contested this year. Before UK championship, McLeod surged into the first stage of 2011 Welsh Open and 2011 World Snooker Championship.
As far as his clash against defending champion and current World Champion, John Higgins, is concerned, he faced the Scotsman earlier in the second round of the 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, where the Wellingborough cueist was defeated by Higgins with the score line of 13-7.
Speaking to media about his clash against Higgins at the UK Championship’s first round, McLeod expressed his thoughts and said, “I have met him before haven’t I? Maybe they can mess up the draw, maybe they have done it wrong! I’ve played him before, I know what I have got to do. I just hope that I will do the right thing at the right time.”
He added, “I have (played in York before). Neil Robertson beat me 9-8, Tony Drago beat me 9-8 and Stuart Bingham beat me 9-8 so I am looking for a result in my favour this time!”
The 2011 UK Championship will be staged from December 3-11 at the Barbican Centre in York and the event is expected to be one of the most thrilling ones of the year.
Tags: