Gwent quartet still in hunt for the Crucible

Williams and Jones begin their pursuit of a Crucible berth today against China’s Zhao Xintong and Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham.

Walker and Preece both have second round ties tomorrow, with the former facing 11-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans and the latter taking on Chinese teenager Zhou Yuelong.

Sadly, 15-year-old Jackson Page won’t be making an appearance at the finals following an agonising 10-9 defeat to Martin O’Donnell.

Ebbw Vale schoolboy Page showed remarkable courage to recover from 4-0 and 8-5 down to clinch the penultimate frame with a 62 break and take it to a decider.

The 19th frame went to the wire before the Englishman won it on the last pink.

As for today, Cwm left-hander Williams will bid to make the main draw at the Crucible for the 20th time.

Qualifying to get to the home of snooker in Sheffield isn’t something the two-time former world champion has had to do very often in a professional career spanning a quarter of a century.

Victory would set Williams up for a battle with Liam Highfield or Andres Petrov.

Cwmbran’s Jones returned to the game’s main tour this season after becoming 2016 European champion.

He has never qualified for the World Championship and knows he will have his work cut out to oust the Thai.

Another Welshman, David John, also starts his campaign today with a tough tie against Matthew Selt.

Tomorrow sees Walker, from Newbridge, meet the best female player on the planet.

Evans’ defeat of Robin Hull earlier in the week was a big upset and leaves her just a couple of victories from becoming the first woman to appear at the Crucible.

Newport’s Preece plays world number 37 Yuelong, who qualified for the pro tour at just 15 after winning the IBSF World Championship.

There’s an all-Welsh clash between Dominic Dale and Daniel Wells, while Neath duo Jamie Jones and Michael White face Alfie Burden and Ross Muir respectively.