Gunnell eyes up the big guns

Shropshire’s Adrian Gunnell will line up in one of snooker’s biggest tournaments after proving the king of final frame deciders.

The 36-year-old Telford cueman booked his place in the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Glasgow next month after two 5-4 victories in qualifying at Prestatyn.

Gunnell overcame Irishman Vincent Muldoon on Wednesday, in a game where he came close to netting his second competitive maximum 147 break before missing the 15th black.

Despite being well short of his best form, he again held his nerve in another tense encounter to edge out world No 21 Stuart Bingham last night.

“I gave up trying to work this game out years ago,” said Gunnell. “Sometimes I have gone to tournaments playing brilliantly and got beaten in my first game. I was really struggling coming into this week and have qualified.

“I’m not going to kid myself because I’m still seriously struggling with my game. But I have to take positives and I potted some great balls under pressure.”

Breaks of 100 and 63 helped Gunnell reach the interval at 2-2 and he took the lead by taking the first frame after the re-start.

Bingham moved 4-3 up and appeared certain to clinch victory in the eighth before missing a straight-forward blue and Gunnell pounced.

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