British Open snooker: Hossein Vafaei and David Gilbert reach last 64 with qualifying wins

ByEurosport

Updated 17/08/2023 at 22:17 GMT

Hossein Vafaei and David Gilbert advanced to the last 64 of the British Open with convincing wins on Thursday, while 18-year-old Scottish rookie Liam Graham edged a decider against Cao Yupeng on the final black after trailing 3-2 to win his first match 4-3 on the main circuit. Qualifying runs until Saturday in Leicester before the world's top 16 play their opening matches in Cheltenham next month.

'Extraordinary' - Vafaei smashes into reds on break-off against O’Sullivan

Ranking event winners Hossein Vafaei and David Gilbert secured a place in the last 64 of the British Open with comfortable victories on Thursday in Leicester.

Former Shoot Out champion Vafaei dispatched Andy Lee 4-1 to book a trip to the finals venue in Cheltenham next month with world No. 23 Gilbert – the 2021 Championship League winner – matching that scoreline with breaks of 63 and 71 in overcoming Ryan Thomerson.

Elsewhere, Scottish teenager Liam Graham enjoyed his first professional win with a 4-3 success settled on the final black against former Scottish Open finalist Cao Yupeng, while Ashley Hugill dumped World Championship quarter-finalist Jak Jones 4-2 in the evening session at the Morningside Arena.

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Qualifying runs until Saturday before the world's top 16 play their opening matches at the finals venue at the Centaur in Cheltenham with the event staged between September 25 and October 1.

In an open FA Cup-style draw, world champion Luca Brecel has landed Ding Junhui, while Mark Allen and Anthony McGill collide in another intriguing contest between two players inside the top 16.

World No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan – the British Open champion in 1994 – was paired with former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson.

The matches are the best-of-seven frames with the quarter-finals increasing to the best-of-nine, before two best-of-11 frame semi-finals and a best-of-19 frame final.