Ding Junhui plays in the qualification match against Billy Joe Castle of the World Open, October 28, 2019./ VCG photo
For snooker's World Open held in Yushan County in east China's Jiangxi Province, home favorite Ding Junhui faced unheralded Englishman Billy Joe Castle in qualifying. The winner of this contest would book a spot in the round of 64, and world number 18 Ding was determined to advance on home soil after being ousted in the first round of the England Open two weeks ago.
Ding is off to a good start as he sinks the yellow, quickly sweeping to victory in the opening two frames. He continues to run the table and takes the third by a margin of 95-4. But Ding finds trouble in the fourth, as his cue ball fails to touch the red on that bank shot, and Castle claims the frame 69-48.
The 27-year-old Hampshire native then takes the fifth as well. But Ding sinks this red with precision before clearing the table, and extending his overall lead to 4-2.
Castle tries to prolong things in the seventh frame, but ends up handing the table back to Ding, who wraps it up 5-2, and after Liam Highfield's withdrawal, is into the last 32.
Dale upsets O'Sullivan 5-3 in WPBSA World Open qualifying
Ronnie O'Sullivan looks on in the qualification match against Dominic Dale of the World Open, October 28, 2019./ VCG photo
England's five time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan faced Dominic Dale, and did not get the result he wanted on the long shot. His Welsh opponent takes advantage of the miscue and soon claims the first two frames. But the Rocket battles back to grab the next two, and tie the contest heading into the fifth frame.
The 47-year-old Dale, who stunned China's Ding in the first round of the England Open, continues to seek another upset here in Yushan, while the errors pile up for O'Sullivan. The Welshman finally wins at 5-3, his first victory over the Rocket, to advance to the round of 64.