Gunnell ready for China crisis
Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell will pit his snooker wits against the game's greatest rising talent in front of an estimated television audience of 100 million on Monday. Shropshire's Adrian Gunnell will pit his snooker wits against the game's greatest rising talent in front of an estimated television audience of 100 million on Monday. The Telford cueman meets Ding Junhui in front of the teeanger's fanatical home crowd in the final qualifying round of the China Open. Following his World Championship elimination, this represents Gunnell's final tournament of what has been a successful season - and he is keen to finish with a flourish. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
The Telford cueman meets Ding Junhui in front of the teeanger's fanatical home crowd in the final qualifying round of the China Open.
Following his World Championship elimination, this represents Gunnell's final tournament of what has been a successful season - and he is keen to finish with a flourish.
"It's going to be a tough game because everyone knows how good Ding is and what potential he has got," he said.
"But this is the kind of match is what you are in the game for. He has about 100 million people watching him every time he is on television over there so there will be a fair few tuning in."
Gunnell, however, is aware he will have to expect the unexpected. "I've played a couple of the home players before over there and the spectators don't just have calls on their mobile phones while you are playing, they answer them!" he added.
"I remember playing Chris Small two years ago and there were electrical problems. They tried to fix it while we were playing and there were sparks flying everywhere - it was like something out of an MTV video."