Shropshire’s Adrian Gunnell has qualified for the second biggest tournament on the snooker calender. A nerve-jangling 9-8 victory over Sean Storey in the final qualifying round ensured the 34-year-old will be heading to York’s Barbican Centre for the UK Championships in a fortnight.
Gunnell appeared well placed to progress as he led 5-3 at the interval and stretched his advantage by taking the first frame of the evening session. But Storey produced a blistering run to take the next four. The Telford cueman levelled the scores with a 112 break but again fell behind at 8-7.
Gunnell stole a tense 16th frame on the colours and then sealed victory with a 110 break, started with a four-ball plant, in the decider.
“I’m thrilled because I don’t really want to contemplate the consequences of defeat,” he said. “The practice I’ve put in recently has made a huge difference because I know now that my technique and cueing will stand up under pressure.
“It was a very high standard throughout the game and I hardly remember either of us missing more than a handful of balls each in 17 frames.”
Gunnell will now meet rival Mark King at York in the week commencing December 4 for the right to book a high-profile encounter against former world champion John Higgins.
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