Joe Perry 'physically sick' after dramatic win over friend Mark Davis

Joe Perry said he felt "physically sick" after a dramatic win over friend Mark Davis booked his place in the final stages of the World Snooker Championship for the 17th time. Perry sunk the last two balls for a 10-9 win after the 50-year-old Davis, who was also playing to retain his place on the tour next year, missed the pink to bring an end to a break of 55.

Perry, who reached the semi-finals in 2008, said: "I don't know what to feel. Mark was clearing up and we all know what was at stake for him.

"He did all the hard work but missed it and I came to the table and I felt physically sick for him - it was a horrible feeling because he's one of my best friends. "I should be absolutely delighted and over the moon, but it's weird.

I'm chuffed to bits to go to the Crucible, but the way it's happened I just feel so sick for him." Four Chinese players are among the five Crucible debutants whose names will be in the first-round draw on Thursday morning, in a year in which 10 of their compatriots are facing charges relating to match-fixing. Rising star Pang Junxu sealed the final place with a 10-5 win over his compatriot Xu Si, joining Si Jiahui, Wu Yize and Fan Zhengyi, all of whom qualified on Tuesday.

Former semi-finalist David Gilbert booked his return with a 10-7 win over double runner-up Matthew Stevens, while Iran's Hossein Vafaei was a 10-6 winner over Jackson Page. Ryan Day advanced to the final stages after opponent Scott Donaldson was forced to retire due to leg tremors having lost the first four frames.