Ebdon fails to reach World Championship

It had looked as though the 2002 champion would reach the main draw after racing into a 2-0 lead but Hull reeled off the next three frames to edge ahead before taking control of the match - eventually building a 9-6 lead.

Ebdon recovered to 9-8, but a 57 from Hull in the 18th frame ensured the Finnish world number 122 of a place at the Crucible.

Shanghai Masters runner-up Xiao Guodong reached the main draw for the first time with a 10-1 demolition of Li Yan.

Xiao, 25, hit breaks of 68, 71, 85, 119 and 65 en route to a comfortable victory – Li’s solitary response coming in the eighth frame.

"I'm very happy to make it to the Crucible for the first time," said Xiao.

"I have never even been inside the Crucible. I will just keep trying in every match. I want to thank all of my family and friends who have supported me."

Elsewhere, Martin Gould beat Liang Wenbo 10-7 and Ryan Day won the final four frames on the bounce to win 10-5 against Stuart Carrington.

Yesterday, former champions Mark Williams and Graeme Dott crashed out in the final round of qualifying.

Ken Doherty 10-5 Dechawat Poomjaeng

David Gilbert 10-6 Jimmy Robertson

Kyren Wilson 10-7 Graeme Dott

Dominic Dale 10-6 Andrew Higginson

Alan McManus 10-8 Mark Williams

Michael Holt 10-6 Jamie Jones

Jamie Cope 10-7 Mark King

Tom Ford 10-8 Matthew Stevens

Michael Wasley 10-9 Robert Milkins

Robin Hull 10-8 Peter Ebdon

Martin Gould 10-7 Liang Wenbo

Jamie Burnett 10-8 Ben Woollaston

Ryan Day 10-5 Stuart Carrington

Michael White 10-7 Matthew Selt

Xiao Guodong 10-1 Li Yan

Robbie Williams 10-9 Fergal O'Brien