Bai Yulu wins thriller on final black against Joshua Thomond to reach last 32 at snooker Q School, Michael Holt advances

Bai Yulu claimed the final two frames against Joshua Thomond to complete a thrilling 4-3 comeback win and book her place in the last 32 of Q School in Leicester. The 19-year-old women's British Open champion sealed victory on the final black just before midnight on Sunday to set up a meeting with Simon Bedford on Monday evening, the penultimate day of Event Two of the 208-player tournament. Ad Bai produced breaks of 59 and 75 with Thomond compiling 76 in the fifth frame, but it was the Chinese player who held her nerve superbly to edge a taut decider by two points.

SnookerBai enjoys luck of draw to advance at Q School03/06/2023 AT 07:45 The World Championship finalist won her opener 4-1 against Zac Cosker and had advanced to the last 64 after been handed a bye to the third round due to Andrew Pagett securing his two-year professional tour card via Event One last Wednesday. Alexander Ursenbacher, Andrew Higginson and Liam Pullen were the other players to claim places on the main World Snooker Tour circuit from Event One. Elsewhere, Michael Holt advanced to the third round of Event Two with a 4-0 whitewash of Muhammad Aurangzaib that saw him produce runs of 57, 81 and 68.

He will face Daan Leyssen in the last 64 on Monday afternoon as he bids to keep alive his hopes of a rapid return to the main circuit a year after losing his tour card. “It has been a big part of my life for so long. It has been tough watching," said Holt on WST.

«I have to deal with that situation and crack on. The coaching is going alright. Ultimately I still see myself as a player, because when I practice the level is more than there.

I will keep going. “I have to think about things because I have a family and that is life. I might not get back on.