Andy Hicks moved on to the second qualifying round of the 2020 Snooker World Championship after seeing off reigning world women’s snooker champion Reanne Evans 5-3 in Sheffield.

The preliminary stages of the 2020 Snooker World Championship kicked off in Sheffield yesterday. It was a gruelling encounter for many top snooker players, and a lot of the amateurs were kicked out in the first round.

One of the games saw the 46-year-old Andy Hicks defeat Reanne Evans in the first qualifying games. Reanne Evans, who is also a 12-time women’s world champion, had made progress in the opening frame, which lasted just thirty minutes, as she made the most of winning a safety exchange. The second half was played at a much faster tempo affair with Andy “The Cream of Devon” Hicks dominating it with an 89.

Hicks had manifold chances to win the third, he even missed a straightforward red at 44-0 up, but Evans bounced back as she changed to her left hand to pot the crucial pink.

The game progressed in a topsy-turvy manner and went on gradually, with both players displaying inconsistency and making mistakes. However, Hicks took the initiative and levelled matters at the 50-minute interval, thus ensuring he won the two frames, while Evans only scored one point in.

Hicks went ahead for the first time, 76-50 after the fifth frame, but Evans fought back and levelled again. Hicks didn’t give up and took control to increase his advantage, but Evans was undaunted and made it 3-3.

Hicks did not do well in the seventh frame but regained the lead in the race to six. But improved his performance to win in the ninth and win Evans.

Hicks, who is currently ranked 123, will now face Sam Craigie in the next round.

In other games, Jimmy White defeated Ivan Kakovskii, Kishan H Hirani lost to Robin Hull, and Ross Muir eliminated Si Jiahui.

Written by: Collins Nwokolo