Sunday, December 22, 2024

Bai Yulu claims landmark win against Jamie Jones in UK Championship qualifying

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Bai Yulu became the first woman this century to win back-to-back matches at a ranking event with her 6-4 triumph over Jamie Jones in the second qualifying round of the UK Championship.

China’s Bai, 21, compiled breaks of 70, 58, 56 and 68 to advance past world number 54 Jones, a former Crucible quarter-finalist.

She had already defeated Farakh Ajaib in her opening match on Saturday and is the first woman to record consecutive victories at a ranking event since Kelly Fisher, in the pre-qualifying rounds of the 1999 World Championship.

World women’s champion Bai, who is playing on the professional tour for the first time this season, had not won a match on the main tour before this week.

She faces Scott Donaldson next on Tuesday (09:30 GMT) and is two wins away from a place in the final stages of the tournament in York, and a meeting with one of the top-16 ranked players.

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