Teenage schoolkid Riley Powell completed a 4-3 win over veteran cueman Peter Lines in the second round of Q School on Thursday.
The Welsh potting hopeful – who stunned world champion Kyren Wilson at last year’s Shoot Out – hit back from 3-2 down to win the final two frames against former world No. 42 Lines, who first turned professional in 1991, 17 years before Powell was born.
“It feels amazing, beating such an experienced player in such good conditions,” said Powell, who will next face Alex Clenshaw on Friday afternoon in Leicester chasing four more wins to secure his World Snooker Tour card.
“At 3-3 I felt calm and just played my game. I might be a bit too young to get on tour because I don’t have that much experience.
“If it comes, it comes. If not I still have a few more years to try to make it.”
While Lines saw his hopes dashed, it was a good day for several other evergreen competitors with Gerard Greene defeating Steven Hallworth 4-1, Rory McLeod edging Manuel Ederer 4-3 and 1995 Crucible semi-finalist Andy Hicks enjoying a 4-1 win over Sean Maddocks.
The third round continues on Friday 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.