Snooker’s Q School in Leicester kicked off with former world No. 2 Tony Knowles suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat to Scotland’s Jack Borwick. On the bright side, three-time women’s world champion Ng On Yee managed to secure a 4-2 victory over Latvian hopeful Rodion Judin, with a crucial 60 break in the second frame. This win earned her a spot in the second round where she will face Josh Mulholland. Knowles, who needed to win six matches to qualify, will have another chance to compete in qualifying event two after his loss to Borwick in a nervy decider.
The Q School event in Leicester will feature best-of-seven frame encounters running from Tuesday May 21 to Sunday May 26. Knowles had previously reached the last 32 of Q School in 2021 before falling to Mark Lloyd in a 4-2 loss. Other players seeking to regain their tour cards at Q School include 1995 world semi-finalist Andy Hicks, former Crucible qualifiers James Cahill and Mark Joyce, and two-time ranking event quarter-finalist Liam Highfield. Four tour cards will be awarded before qualifying event two begins on May 27, and another four will be up for grabs during the event, providing players with multiple opportunities to secure their spots on the tour.
In addition to the Q School events in Leicester, there are also two Asia and Oceania qualifying events taking place in Bangkok from May 22-27 and from May 28 to June 2. These events will offer four tour cards to players in the region. Snooker fans can catch all the action live on platforms such as discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com. With a mix of experienced players like Knowles and up-and-coming talent like Ng On Yee competing for tour cards, the Q School events promise to be exciting and competitive as players battle it out for their place on the professional snooker tour.
Ng On Yee’s victory over Rodion Judin showcased her skill and determination as she secured a spot in the second round of the Q School event in Leicester. Meanwhile, Knowles’ narrow defeat to Borwick highlights the intense competition and pressure faced by players seeking to qualify for the professional snooker tour. With multiple opportunities available for players to earn tour cards through the Q School events in Leicester and the Asia and Oceania qualifying events in Bangkok, the next few weeks promise to be filled with high-stakes matches and thrilling moments as players vie for their place among snooker’s elite.
As the Q School events in Leicester progress, fans can expect to see more exciting matches and surprising outcomes as players work towards securing their spots on the professional snooker tour. With experienced players like Andy Hicks and emerging talents like Ng On Yee in the mix, the competition is sure to be fierce and unpredictable as players battle it out for tour cards. The stakes will be high as players aim to fulfill their dreams of competing at the highest level of professional snooker, making every frame and every match crucial in determining who will ultimately earn their place on the tour. Snooker enthusiasts can follow all the action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app, and at eurosport.com, ensuring they don’t miss a moment of the drama and excitement unfolding on the green baize.
