Ali Carter suffers shock defeat on final day of International Championship qualifying

Saturday saw the final two sessions of qualifying for the £825,000 world snooker ranking event that will hold its main venue, televised stages in Nanjing, China, between October 31 to November 7.

Carter arrived at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester fresh from winning the English Open title in his home county of Essex last weekend. The world number 16 was heavily fancied to defeat Anton Kazakov, but it was the Ukrainian youngster who upset the odds to record arguably the biggest victory of his fledgling professional career to date.

Kazakov - who last spring created history in winning both the European under-21 and amateur championships within the same year - took the opening frame with a 72 break before doubling his lead by doubling a re-spotted black in the second.

The 21-year-old then made it 3-0 with the aid of a 69, and was on the cusp of a mini-session whitewash before missing a black off its spot whilst on 64 - it would have left his opponent needing penalty points.

Carter battled back into contention, and he eventually pinched the frame on the final pink to get on the scoreboard. However, following the mid-session interval, Kazakov recovered from the disappointment of frame four, registering further runs of 54 and 69 in a memorable 6-2 victory.

Towards the end of match, Carter - who made an 86 in frame six - grew increasingly frustrated, but congratulated his opponent at the end of the tie. His emotions were in stark contrast to those from less than a week ago when he lifted The Steve Davis Trophy and collected £100,000.

Next up for Kazakov in the tournament is a last 64 meeting with the Republic of Ireland's number one player Aaron Hill.

Earlier on table number one, Shaun Murphy managed to overcome a difficult start to deny Zhao Hanyang, 6-4.

World number 83 Zhao was the beneficiary of several unforced errors from his high-profile rival early on, taking the first frame on the final black and the second on the final pink, before going 3-0 ahead with an effort of 107.

But Murphy - playing his first match since losing in the semi-finals in Brentwood last weekend - found some fluency as he claimed the next five frames along with runs of 78, 74 and 77.

Zhao prolonged the tie with the help of a 51 in the ninth, but a relieved Murphy got the job done after a 59 in the tenth.

Elsewhere on the final day of qualifiers for this competition, reigning Scottish Open champion Chris Wakelin whitewashed Michael Larkov 6-0, and reigning Wuhan Open champion Chang Bingyu also scored a clean sweep, totting up six half-centuries against Fergal Quinn. Si Jiahui and Stan Moody were also whitewash winners.

The in-form Liam Davies - who reached his maiden ranking event quarter-final last week - continued his fine spell, making a 108 in a 6-1 win over Anthony McGill.

Lyu Haotian was 3-0 down to Mahmoud El Hareedy, but fashioned breaks of 72, 84, 86, 84, 123 and 96 in a brilliant six-frame burst to progress.

Joe O'Connor (100) ousted two-time world women's champion Bai Yulu, 6-5.

Yuan Sijun (105 break), Xu Si (106), Gary Wilson, Duane Jones and David Lilley were Saturday's other qualifiers for Nanjing.

From Sunday to Wednesday at the Mattioli, the qualifying rounds for the 2026 Scottish Open take place.

Reports from 2026 International Championship qualifying earlier in the week can be read here (Thursday) and here (Friday).