Gunnell one step from Ding
Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell is one match away from a meeting with rising snooker sensation Ding Junhui on home territory. Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell is one match away from a meeting with rising snooker sensation Ding Junhui on home territory. Click here for all the Maplin UK Championships build-up That enticing proposition moved a step closer reality when Gunnell defeated David Roe 9-4 in the penultimate qualifying stage of the UK Championships, which will be held at Telford's International Centre next month. But any thoughts of a clash with Chinese superstar Ding are on the backburner with Gunnell facing arguably the toughest possible task in final qualifying at Prestatyn tomorrow - a best-of-19-frames meeting with former UK Champion Matthew Stevens. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
That enticing proposition moved a step closer reality when Gunnell defeated David Roe 9-4 in the penultimate qualifying stage of the UK Championships, which will be held at Telford's International Centre next month.
But any thoughts of a clash with Chinese superstar Ding are on the backburner with Gunnell facing arguably the toughest possible task in final qualifying at Prestatyn tomorrow - a best-of-19-frames meeting with former UK Champion Matthew Stevens.
The Welshman - a twice world finalist - has suffered a slump over the last two years and has dropped out of the top 16.
But he has shown signs of a revival this term - he is currently provisionally 13th - and Gunnell is aware of his opponent's precocious talents.
"Matthew has had a tough time but he should never be out of the top eight - he's a class act," he said.
"I will have to be at my very best to beat him but I have been playing well. I could only play as well as the tables would allow me yesterday because it was the worst one I have ever played on.
"But hopefully the tables will improve by tomorrow and my performance levels can move up as well.
"I would love to be playing at Telford."