McManus lands one for ‘old timers’
ALAN McMANUS raised a toast to the ‘old timers’ being back after booking his place at the Betfred World Championship for the first time in four years.
The evergreen Glasgow potter had failed to qualify for the Crucible since his memorable run to the semi-finals in 2016 but toppled world No.88 Louis Heathcoate 10-5 on Monday evening, ending those four years of hurt and proving that while form is temporary, class is permanent.
The 1994 Masters champion, 49, will be the oldest player at the competition since six-time world champion Steve Davis in 2010, with McManus competing at his first Betfred World Championship all the way back in 1991.
“The old timers are back – I’m pleased to get through,” he said. “29 years is a long time. It’s a shame it is not going to be a full crowd, but it’s brilliant to be part of it and I’ll look forward to the draw.
“There are some guys I’d like to play. I love playing John Higgins at the Crucible, but you take who you get.
“I’m a little disappointed as I didn’t play well in both my matches, but conditions were difficult. It was a little bit hot in there and it was pretty slow.”
Two-time ranking event winner McManus struck fine breaks of 96 and 52 at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport, letting his snooker do the talking despite turning his attention to TV punditry in recent years.
“I’ll go back and work hard for the next couple of days, but I found a little something in my game tonight that might help for the Crucible and I might be able to upset one or two,” he added.
“I came with a method and sort of dug in. I got some practise at the beginning of June so I managed to turn up with some sort of game. It was nice to get through.”
- Live snooker returns to Eurosport and the Eurosport app. Watch the World Championship and qualifying from 21st July – 16th August.