World of sport
Former world champ Dott made to battle all the way before victory
Battling Scot Graeme Dott avoided an upset to keep his German Masters qualifying hopes alive.
Former world champion Dott was taken to the wire by England’s Craig Steadman, the world No 72, in the first round of qualifying at Barnsley’s Metrodome.
But the Larkhall potter clinched a hard-fought 5-4 victory to make sure of a final qualifying round clash with England’s Ashley Carty today.
Steadman pushed Dott hard with a top break of 91, but the 2006 Crucible champion made his experience count with runs of 60 and 59 to deservedly progress in South Yorkshire.
And next up is a best-of-11 frame showdown with world No 84 Carty.
Glaswegian Anthony Mcgill locks horns with Chinese cueman Liang Wenbo in the final round of qualifying today, with victory securing a place at next month’s prestigious ranking tournament in Berlin, taking place between January 29 and February 2.
And compatriot
Stephen Maguire is also in action today as he takes on Chinese potter Tian Pengfei for a place in the first round proper in the new year.
Perth cueman Scott Donaldson must beat England’s Harvey Chandler to make sure of his qualification.
Milton’s Maguire is full of confidence having reached the UK Championship final in York earlier this month.
Maguire revealed: “I feel like I’ve turned a corner. I just hope I can replicate that on a regular basis.
“If I knew what clicked for me then I would have done the same thing at every tournament.
“But it’s up to me to push on because I don’t want to wait another 12 years before I get to another major final.”