Knowles suffers defeat on first day of Q School in Leicester as On Yee advances

Former world No. 2 Tony Knowles suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Scotland’s Jack Borwick on the opening day of snooker’s Q School in Leicester.

But there was better news for three-time women’s world champion Ng On Yee, who completed a 4-2 win over Latvian hopeful Rodion Judin to reach the second round.

Hong Kong player On Yee was boosted by a 60 break in the second frame before claiming the final three frames to secure a meeting with Josh Mulholland on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Borwick made a 51 in the second frame to lead 2-0 before Bolton favourite Knowles reeled off the next three to lead 3-2 only to lose a nervy decider on the final pink.

He needed to win six matches at the city’s Mattioli Arena with the best-of-seven frame encounters running between Tuesday May 21 until Sunday May 26 at qualifying event one, but will get a second crack at qualifying when event two begins on Monday.

Knowles reached the last 32 of Q School in 2021 before losing 4-2 to Mark Lloyd.

A number of other players will bid to regain their tour cards at Q School this week, including 1995 world semi-finalist Andy Hicks, former Crucible qualifiers James Cahill and Mark Joyce, and two-time ranking event quarter-finalist Liam Highfield.

Four tour cards will be handed out before qualifying event two begins on Monday May 27 and runs until Saturday June 1 in Leicester with the same process providing four more tour cards.

There is also two Asia and Oceania qualifying events in Bangkok (22-27 May and May 28 until June 2) which will see four more tour cards on the line.