Bai Yulu: Women's British Open champion begins snooker Q School campaign with victory

Women's British Open champion Bai Yulu began her quest to claim a spot on the main professional circuit with a 4-3 victory over Muhammad Aurangzaib at Q School on Saturday. The 19-year-old Chinese talent claimed her first major title with a 4-3 win over 12-time world champion Reanne Evans earlier this month and is chasing five more wins in Leicester to join Eurosport analyst Evans on the elite tour.

Ad Bai lost 6-3 to Thailand’s Baipat Siripaporn in the women's world final in March and showed her class on her Q School debut with breaks of 62 and a closing 78 helping her edge through at the city's Morningside Arena. SnookerNg reveals plans to regain spot among snooker elite after British Open setback18/05/2023 AT 17:29 She will face former Crucible qualifier Craig Steadman in the second round on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, there was convincing opening wins for former tour veterans Gerard Greene and Robin Hull. Northern Irishman Greene completed a 4-0 whitewash of James Burrett with in-form Finnish player Hull – fresh from winning his national title in Helsinki – easing through by the same scoreline against Richard Pipe boosted by runs of 114, 58 and 66.

208 players are competing for only eight World Snooker Tour cards from this year's Q School that will earn them playing rights for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, respectively. There are two tournaments with the four semi-finalists from each earning coveted spots on the circuit.

Event One runs from Friday 26 May until Wednesday 31 May with the second competition starting on Thursday 1 June until Tuesday 6 June. A player entering in round one will have to win six matches to earn their card with those coming in at the second stage needing five wins from the best-of-seven