Thai potter Sunny Akani will return to the main professional World Snooker Tour after completing a 4-2 win over Ali Gharagozlou at the Asia and Oceania Q School in Bangkok.
“When I was leading 3-0, I knew I had to focus as anyone can come back and turn the game around if you lose focus. Hats off to Ali for coming back strongly.
“I’m sure he will be a tough contender in the second event.”
Meanwhile, Malysia’s Kok Leong Lim claimed the second tour card from event one with a taut 4-3 win over former world No. 72 Gao Yang.
O’Sullivan but recovered from trailing 4-2 and 5-4 to scramble over the line before praising his opponent’s long potting.
The 28-year-old Akani was as high as 44 in the world rankings in 2021 and reached quarter-finals at the Shoot Out and Indian Open.
But he lost his tour card in 2022 and could not regain his spot on the circuit at Q School two years ago.
The Asia and Oceania Q School began at Rajamangala National Stadium on May 22, with the second qualifying event running until Sunday with two tournaments producing four places on the circuit for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.