2024 British Open Snooker Qualifiers: Kowalski and Lim register maiden professional victories

Kowalski drew all three of his matches at the Championship League a few weeks ago and was recently defeated 5-2 by Judd Trump in the Xi'an Grand Prix, but the 20-year-old Polish cueist secured his first W this time out with a 4-1 success over Daniel Wells.

Malaysia's Lim was playing in only his second match as a top tier exponent and he got the better of the very experienced Anthony Hamilton, 4-1, to pick up his first ranking money.

Lim earned his tour card via graduating from the latest Asia-Oceania Q School, so did Thailand's Sunny Akani, who whitewashed amateur top-up Daniel Womersley 4-0 to complete three out of three victories during this 10-day block of qualifying matches in Leicester.

Stuart Bingham, Alfie Burden and Ben Woollaston all emerged on the winning side of deciding frame finishes.

Last season's WST Rookie Player of the Year He Guoqiang battled back from 3-0 down to force a seventh frame against Bingham, although the former world champion got the job done in the last. Bingham made five half-centuries during the tie, including two in frames he lost.

Woollaston totted up runs of 71, 66, 64 and 70 in the frames he won in eliminating Matt Selt.

Stan Moody made it back-to-back wins on the circuit; the 17-year-old compiled efforts of 100, 79 and 52 during a 4-2 triumph over Joe O'Connor.

Long Zehuang (104, 102) and Xiao Guodong (100) both crafted three-figure contributions during their respective victories.

Yuan Sijun, Hammad Miah and Marco Fu were the other winners on Friday. The final day’s play in this initial phase takes place on Saturday with 12 more scheduled matches. The order of play is here.

Draw and results for the 2024 British Open, here.