Mink Nutcharut scored her best win as a professional as she beat Adam Duffy 6-3 in the first qualifying round of the MrQ UK Championship.
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Thailand’s Nutcharut goes through to face Michael White in the second round of the qualifiers in Leicester and she needs three more wins to reach the final stages in York, which begin on November 25th.
Nutcharut, age 24, turned pro in 2022 after winning the World Women’s Championship for the first time. In her debut season she partnered Neil Robertson to victory at the World Mixed Doubles, and beat Mitchell Mann in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open. Today she out-played world number 97 Duffy to earn her first win in a Triple Crown event.
After losing the opening frame, she built a 3-1 lead with a top break of 60. Duffy pulled one back before Nutcharut took the next two for 5-2. In frame eight, she missed the final black which would have clinched a 6-2 success. But she kept her composure at the end of the next frame, potting pink and black to seal the result.
“I am very happy and excited,” said Nutcharut. “In the last frame the pressure was on and my heart was beating fast. The last black would usually be easy but the pressure made if difficult. I have ben practising with a lot of good players in Sheffield so I felt confident. I don’t know if I can win another match, I will just enjoy it,”
Marco Fu, who was runner-up in this tournament in 2008, edged out Michael Holt 6-5 in a high quality tussle. Holt made breaks of 91, 117, 70, 56 and 125 but still finished on the wrong side of the scoreline to Hong Kong’s Fu, who compiled runs of 77, 82 and a 71 in the decider. He now meets Ben Mertens.
China’s Xing Zihao top scored with 104 in a 6-2 defeat of Jimmy White.
