Gunnell pots a fantastic victory
Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell proved he is still full of Eastern promise by equalling his best-ever performance in a ranking tournament at the Shanghai Masters. Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell proved he is still full of Eastern promise by equalling his best-ever performance in a ranking tournament at the Shanghai Masters. The 34-year-old did it in stunning style by dumping out Ali Carter - who is 15 in the provisional world rankings - 5-1 yesterday. Gunnell now advances to the last 16 of a major tournament for only the third time in his career - and both his two previous runs have also come in the Far East, in the Thailand Masters of 2001 and at the China Open two years ago. He will now meet either former world champion Ken Doherty or Dominic Dale in the last 16 tomorrow. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Gunnell now advances to the last 16 of a major tournament for only the third time in his career - and both his two previous runs have also come in the Far East, in the Thailand Masters of 2001 and at the China Open two years ago. He will now meet either former world champion Ken Doherty or Dominic Dale in the last 16 tomorrow.
Gunnell believes a place in his first ever ranking quarter-final is an achieveable target.
"If I keep playing as I did against Ali yesterday then it's going to take something special to beat me," said the Telford star, speaking from Shanghai.
"I was really pleased with the way I played and beating a player ranked so high is always a good scalp," he added.
"The venue here is the best I have ever played in and I'm really enjoying it, even though the tables are really slow because they are being affected by moisture because of the extreme heat.
"I know it's going to be tough whoever I play tomorrow but if I can continue my good form, hopefully I can get to my first quarter-final because it's long overdue."
Gunnell won the first frame with a break of 58 but narrowly missed the chance to double his advantage when he ran out of position from yellow to green when on 67 in the next, allowing Carter to clear up.
But a player who reached the last eight of the World Championships earlier this year - beating Stephen Hendry in the process - had no answer to a vintage showing from Gunnell.
Breaks of 98 and 75 saw the Shropshire cueman edge 3-1 clear at the interval before he wrapped up a memorable victory by claiming the next two frames, including a 67 break in the last.
Gunnell had displayed signs of coming to form in beating Jin Long in the wild card round, breaks of 72 and 126 helping him to a 5-2 success which set up his meeting with Carter.
By James Garrison