The qualifiers for the 2024 World Snooker Championship

The qualifying rounds for the 2024 World Snooker Championship took place at the English Institute for Sport in Sheffield between April 8-17.

We run through and provide information on the 16 players who advanced to the main draw at the Crucible Theatre later in the month, where they’ll be paired up against the 16 seeds in round one.

It’s arguably the strongest set of world championship qualifiers, ever, with every player in the main draw being inside the world’s top 45 rankings.

Jack Lisowski

The first time that Lisowski had to qualify for the Crucible since 2018, the world number 17 dropped only seven frames across his two preliminary matches at the EIS.

It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for ‘Jackpot’ as he slipped outside the world’s elite bracket, although he did reach the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open.

He has previously been to the Crucible seven times, with his best result being a run to the quarter-finals in 2022 when he lost 13-12 to John Higgins.

Dominic Dale

One of the big stories from this year’s qualifying rounds, 52-year-old Dominic Dale became the oldest Crucible qualifier since Steve Davis in 2010.

Dale has enjoyed a resurgence this season; two ranking event quarter-finals (Shoot Out, Welsh Open) have helped him into 29th position on the one-year list.

The world number 40 last qualified for the world championship ten years ago. This will be the Welshman’s tenth main draw appearance. His debut was in 1997 and he has twice made the quarter-finals (2000 and 2014).

Ricky Walden

Ricky Walden secured a tenth Crucible outing after recovering from 5-2 down to oust Mark Davis 10-9 in the final qualifying round.

The current world number 32, Walden is 26th on the one-year list, with a last eight finish at the Northern Ireland Open being his best return of the season.

The Englishman nearly reached the world final in 2013 when he led Barry Hawkins 12-8 in the semi-finals before bowing out 17-14.

Jak Jones

A quarter-finalist on his Crucible debut 12 months ago, Jak Jones booked an immediate return to snooker’s grandest stage.

The world number 44 hasn’t really built on that memorable run this season, currently occupying 67th on the one-year list. However, he impressively dispatched three-time ranking event finalist Zhou Yuelong 10-4 in the final qualifying round, winning eight consecutive frames from 4-2 down.

Stephen Maguire

Six-time ranking event winner Stephen Maguire is set for his 20th Crucible appearance, 20 years on from his debut in 2004.

The world number 28 had to navigate two rounds to make it back to the hallowed carpet. The 43-year-old has had a steady season; 20th on the one-year list, he made the quarter-finals of both the Northern Ireland Open and International Championship.

Maguire’s run of successive world championship appearances since his debut was broken last year (2023). He is a two-time semi-finalist at snooker’s premier competition. In 2007 he led John Higgins 14-10 but lost 17-15.

Stuart Bingham

The world champion in 2015, Stuart Bingham has preserved his record of appearing at the Crucible every year since 2011, although qualifying was far from straightforward.

The Englishman came back from 7-3 down to pip Stuart Carrington 10-9 in the penultimate round before claiming the final three frames of a 10-8 victory against Louis Heathcote at the last hurdle.

Bingham has endured a frustrating season and his one-year ranking of 57 represents that. The current world number 29 did reach the last eight of the Scottish Open, though.

This will be Bingham’s 18th Crucible outing. He famously made his debut in 2000 when he knocked out reigning champion Stephen Hendry on the opening day.

Robbie Williams

World number 45 Robbie Williams survived a deciding frame shootout against Chris Wakelin to make the main draw for the fourth time in his career.

Williams has had a consistent season. Number 38 on the one-year list, he has eliminated John Higgins, Mark Williams, Zhang Anda and Ding Junhui from ranking events this term.

The 37-year-old featured at the Crucible three years running between 2014 to 2016, although has not been back since. He is looking for his first match win there.

Lyu Haotian

China’s Lyu Haotian has quietly enjoyed a very decent season and is placed 17th on the one-year rankings.

Lyu reached the last eight of the European Masters and defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-1 en route to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open in his homeland.

The 26-year-old, world number 26 has three previous Crucible appearances under his belt. He defeated seed Marco Fu on debut in 2018.

Hossein Vafaei

Iran’s number one player has qualified for his third Crucible campaign, all of those arriving in the last three consecutive years. At last year’s event, he scored his first win at the venue before losing 13-2 to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last 16.

The world number 19 defeated three-time ranking event winner Marco Fu 10-4 and then recovered from 3-0 down to dispatch Jiang Jun 10-5 in the final qualifying round.

The 29-year-old former Shoot Out champion has had a solid season. Currently 13th on the one-year list, Vafaei reached the semi-finals of both the British Open and UK Championship.

Si Jiahui

Si Jiahui enjoyed an incredible run to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Championship on his Crucible debut. At the time, China’s Si threatened to become the sport’s youngest ever world title holder, but he lost 17-15 to eventual winner Luca Brecel in the last four having been 14-5 up. Numerically, the biggest comeback ever seen there.

The 21-year-old will be back on the big stage within the next few days, but he might be wondering how as he was 9-7 down to youngster Ben Mertens in the penultimate qualifying round and needed a snooker in the 18th frame. After conjuring up that 10-9 victory, he strung together 10 frames in-a-row from 4-0 down to deny compatriot Wu Yize and book his Crucible ticket.

Si broke new ground earlier this season when he appeared in his maiden ranking event final at the German Masters. He lost that final to Trump, but placed 18th on the one-year list represents a largely pleasing season. He is currently number 23 in the overall world rankings.

David Gilbert

‘The Angry Farmer’ books a tenth trip to the Crucible, and his sixth in as many years. The 42-year-old, who made his debut there in 2007, heartbreakingly missed out on the world final in 2019 when he lost 17-16 to John Higgins in the semi-finals having led 12-7 and 14-11.

The former Championship League ranking event winner has picked up some very decent prize money this season, and he sits 28th on the one-year list, higher than his current world ranking of 31. His best outing in 2023/24, so far, was a run to the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open.

Jackson Page

22-year-old Welshman Jackson Page eliminated 2006 champion Graeme Dott 10-5 and then ousted Noppon Saengkham 10-9 to get through to the main draw for the second time. On debut in 2022, he beat Barry Hawkins in round one but lost to practice partner Mark Williams in round two.

The world number 43 is in very good form; only a few weeks ago he reached his first ranking event semi-final at the World Open in Yushan where he bowed out to eventual winner Judd Trump. He’d previously not been to the last eight of a ranked tournament.

Jamie Jones

Jamie Jones produced the biggest headline of the qualifiers as he recovered from 8-5 down to pip 2010 world champion Neil Robertson 10-9 in the final round. At his eighth attempt, Jones registered his first success over Robertson.

The 36-year-old Welshman now looks forward to a sixth visit to the Crucible Theatre. On his debut in 2012, Jones made the last eight there.

41st in the world rankings, Jones hasn't had much to write home about this season so far, although his best result was a last 16 run at the UK Championship in York.

Pang Junxu

Compared to last season when he reached his maiden ranking final at the WST Classic, this campaign has been disappointing in comparison for Pang Junxu (last 16 at the International Championship is his best result), although the 24-year-old could finish it with a flourish as he makes the world championship main arena for the second year running.

On Crucible debut twelve months ago, the Chinese cueist gave defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan a good workout on the opening day during a 10-7 loss.

At the EIS over the past few days, world number 27 Pang scored 10-7 and 10-8 victories; the latter being against fellow countryman Cao Yupeng.

Ryan Day

Four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day was put through the wringer as he squeezed past Scott Donaldson 10-9 in the final qualifying round having led 7-2 and then trailed 8-7.

It is Crucible berth number 15 for the 44-year-old with his debut having come two decades ago. He has graced the quarter-finals there three times.

World number 18 Day has had a very quiet season, so far, although he did make the last eight of the German Masters earlier this year.

Day was the fifth Welshman to progress from this year’s qualifiers.

Joe O’Connor

The final player to make it through this year’s qualifiers, Joe O’Connor will line up as the only Crucible debutant at the 2024 World Snooker Championship.

The 28-year-old Englishman crushed Julien Leclercq 10-1 but then emerged from a late-night 10-8 tussle with Matthew Selt to realise a dream of performing in the historic arena for the first time.

A former Scottish Open finalist, O’Connor has not gone past the last 32 of a ranking event this season, although the world number 30 did reach the grand final of the Championship League Invitational.