Wallsend cueist qualifies for World Championship bid

WALLSEND’S Gary Wilson has qualified for the World Snooker Championship for the first time in his career as he wrapped up a 10-3 win over Michael White in the final round of qualifying on yesterday afternoon.

The 31-year-old saw off the challenge of Ireland’s Josh Boileau, fellow Englishman Peter Lines and Welsh star White over eight days of qualifying at Ponds Forge to secure a debut appearance at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Wilson succeeded in qualifying at the seventh time of asking and now he will join the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Hendry and Mark Selby at snooker’s showpiece event.

In a dream run for the ~Wallsend cueist, he made a second career maximum 147 break in a tense 10-9 win over Boileau, which had seen Wilson 7-2 to the good.

He then saw off Lines in another close encounter, eventually securing a 10-7 win, before a more routine victory over White as he secured his place in today’s firstround draw. This year’s World Championship begins this Saturday, and Wilson spoke of his joy of joining the illustrious names vying to be crowned 2017 World Snooker Champion. He told World Snooker: “I played well, especially in the first session. It’s just about getting over the line and I’m very chuffed.” Wilson and the other 31 players involved in the 2017 World Championships will learn their firstround fate in today’s draw, with the 17-day tournament getting underway on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Peter Ebdon wrestled with mixed emotions after he secured a 24th appearance at the Crucible. The 40th anniversary of the Crucible first staging the tournament makes it especially poignant for Ebdon, who said: “It means everything. “It’s always great to be introduced as a former world champion, it’s really, really special.” Gary Wilson