Simon Bedford edges past Lee Walker to qualify for pro tour of 2011-12 snooker season – Snooker news
Simon Bedford defeated the Welshman Lee Walker by 4-3 in the quarter-final clash on Sunday, May 22, 2011 to qualify for the 2011-12 snooker season.
The final day of the Q School Event 2 ended at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield featuring four more pro tour qualifiers of the new snooker season.
Two Chinese, Li Yan and Tian Pengfei, along with the Irishman David Morris will also join Bedford in the professional tour of the 2011-12 snooker season as they also won the tour cards beating David Gray, David Gilbert and Michael Wild respectively.
The competition began with a couple of decent small breaks from Bedford to take the first frame with 78-9 and take a 1-0 lead. The Englishman extended his frame lead to 2-0 after he smashed a stunning half-century clearance of 53 to clinch the frame at 67-32.
Walker went under a heavy stress after tumbling two frames down but he gathered some spark in his cue and bounced back with a rattling break of 61 to move within one frame up at 2-1. The next frame was Walker-dominated as the Welsh potter pulled level with
a couple of small breaks in the frame to win it 1-66.
The game went into a tussling situation after 2-2 as both players did not miss any chance to turn the tables in their favour. However, Bedford finally grabbed the lead again at 3-2 after he took the fifth frame 70-52 followed by Walker’s 49-63 frame victory
to drag the match-up into the decider frame.
Walker led initially in the final frame but a strong come back from Bedford brought him in the list of pro tour qualifiers as he clinched the frame 63-24.
Bedford said, “It was a scrappy game but I managed to stay in front. Five years ago I gave the game up, then Steve Prest (coach) helped me get back into it and I got into the top 64. When Steve died I lost my love of the game for a while. But I'm back on
my feet now and ready to give the tour a good crack next season.”
The frame score of the match were 78-9, 67 (53)-32, 4-74 (61), 1-66; 70-52, 49-63 and 63-24.
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