World Snooker Championship: Andy Hicks knocks out Reanne Evans in first qualifying round
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 21/07/2020 at 21:33 GMT
Andy Hicks progresses to the second qualifying round at the Snooker World Championship after beating reigning world women's snooker champion Reanne Evans 6-3 in Sheffield.
Andy Hicks
Image credit: Eurosport
"The World Championship means everything," said world number 123 Hicks, a semi-finalist at the tournament in 1995.
"I've been there nine or 10 times in my career and been to the semi-finals there, albeit many years ago. Of course I want to get back there. That's why I put added pressure on myself.
"I want to do well in the World Championship..it's the biggest event of the year."
It was first blood to the 12-time women's world champion Evans in the opening frame which lasted half an hour as she made the most of winning a safety exchange. The second was a far swifter affair with the 46-year-old Hicks dominating.
Hicks had a handful of opportunities to take the third, including missing a straightforward red at 44-0 up, but Evans fought back as she switched to her left hand to pot the all-important pink.
With both players showing inconsistency and making mistakes, Hicks levelled matters at the 50-minute interval and ensured the two frames he won, Evans only scored one point in.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/07/21/2853570-58817428-2560-1440.jpg)
Reanne Evans sinks long red in World Championship qualifier
Hicks took the lead for the first time 76-50 in a lengthy, scrappy fifth frame, but Evans levelled again. Hicks worked so hard to take control and press home his advantage, but Evans held her nerve and made it 3-3.
"I played okay, but I missed some stupid balls. I wasn't sharp enough," said Evans. "I'm disappointed because I felt really good. I expected him to go out there and go for it, but he was a bit negative.
"I think he put himself off by being a bit too precise."
Hicks was not at his fluent best in the seventh frame but retook the lead nevertheless in the race to six.
The eighth was in the balance after Hicks broke down with the black covering the pocket for the red to the middle helped him, leaving Evans with a mountain to climb.
And there was no coming back as "The Cream of Devon" wrapped it up in ninth frame to got his campaign up and running. He will face Sam Craigie in the next round.
"Reanne is a very good player. There were easier draws in the first round," added Hicks.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement