Norman Storming Through In Gloucester
Andrew Norman played a starring role on Friday claiming two big-name scalps on his way through to Sunday’s last 16, as the South West of England provided three qualifiers on day one of the fourth European Players Tour Championship at the appropriately named, South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester.
Norman, who lost his ‘Tour Card’ last season beat China’s Ding Junhui 4-3 in round one and followed up with a second deciding frame win over Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen.
In the last 32, he faced David Grace from Leeds, another player trying to regain his place on the professional tour via the PTC series.
Grace had looked impressive, beating number one seed, Barry Pinches in round one and China’s number two, Liang Wenbo to set up the last 32 clash with Norman.
Norman is based at the SWSA and managed to use his ‘home advantage’ to claim a win by four-frames-to-two.
Gloucester’s Jack Lisowski is based at the Grove Academy in Romford nowadays but gave the local fans more to cheer with three wins and he will be joined by Wiltshire’s Stephen Lee in Sunday’s draw.
Elsewhere, there were surprise defeats for world numbers one and two before they headed along the M4 to London for Power Snooker’s debut on Saturday.
Australia’s Neil Robertson beat Ireland’s David Morris before being sent packing by China’s Liu Song by four-frames-to-two.
Allister Carter whitewashed wome’s world champion, Reanne Evans in the opening round but was comfortably beaten by talented Welsh youngster, Jamie Jones in round two
Masters champion, Mark Selby and 2005 world champion, Shaun Murphy showed both stayed on course to become the first double-winner of PTC events.
Selby beat Kyren Wilson, Noppon Saengkham and Matt Selt to get through while Murphy beat Judd Trump 4-0 in the last 32 after earlier wins against Gary Thomson and Brazillian, Igor Figueiredo.
Mark Davis and Joe Jogia completed the line up and will be joined by eight further qualifiers on day two.
