On Yee and Cahill suffer defeats at Q School, but Pinches and Joyce progress

Hong Kong’s three-time women’s world champion Ng On Yee suffered a 4-1 loss to Josh Mulholland in the second round of Q School in Leicester on Wednesday night.

Former Crucible qualifier James Cahill – the man who stunned Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-8 as a qualifier in the first round of the 2019 World Championship – also suffered a 4-2 loss to Simon Blackwell.

Cahill compiled fine knocks of 71 and 104 in restoring parity at 2-2, but lost the final two rounds to suffer an early exit.

But world No. 87 Allen Taylor enjoyed two 50-plus breaks and a sparkling 120 in a 4-0 win over Ronnie Sullivan, while there was also victories for Liam Highfield against Callum Beresford (4-0) and Mark Joyce against Ian Martin (4-1).

Meanwhile, evergreen Norwich cueman Barry Pinches made a strong start to his qualifying campaign with a 4-1 victory over Vladislav Gradinari with 18-year-old Ukraine talent Iulian Boiko running out a 4-1 winner over James Burrett.

The second round continues on Thursday at the Mattioli Arena, host venue for this year’s Q School with the best-of-seven frame encounters running between Tuesday May 21 until Sunday May 26 at qualifying event one.

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.