Jack Lisowski booked his place back at the Crucible with a 10-3 win over two-time former finalist Matthew Stevens in the final qualifying round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Lisowski, who reached the quarter-finals in 2022, has been an ever-present in the final stages since 2018 but dropped out of the top 16 after a relatively disappointing current campaign.
The 32-year-old Lisowski had too much for Stevens, making two centuries and five breaks over 50 to seal his place in Thursday morning's first-round draw.
Lisowski said: "This is the best I have played all season, I have practised really hard for it and it’s a relief to get through.
"I have been to the Crucible for six years in a row and I want to do well this time. I know Ding got to the final (in 2016) having come through the qualifiers, and my plan was to turn a negative into a positive."
Former world champion Stuart Bingham booked his place after winning the last three frames to sink Liam Heathcote 10-8, and Stephen Maguire fired three centuries as he recorded a 10-6 win over China’s Yuan Sijun.
Meanwhile, Ronnie O'Sullivan has signed an 'ambassadorial agreement’ with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority which commits the world number one to playing in all official events in the kingdom for the next three years.
O’Sullivan won the inaugural World Masters of Snooker event in Riyadh last month and suggested this week that Saudi Arabia should be considered as a future host of the World Championship, which starts in Sheffield on Saturday.
As well as a second edition of the World Masters of Snooker – which will double its prize for potting the controversial golden ball at the end of a maximum break doubled to $1 million (€940k) – Riyadh will also host its first ranking tournament, the Saudi Arabia Masters, in August.
The agreement also means O’Sullivan, who pulled out of seven ranking tournaments this season, mainly for medical or mental health reasons, will make regular trips to the kingdom to coach and foster aspiring talent.
O’Sullivan said: "Playing in Riyadh last month was an amazing experience. I love the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the fans.
"We can make snooker huge in Saudi Arabia. So I am excited by this chance to work to grow the sport there and the opportunity to coach the best young talent and pass on my experience."
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