From hospital to Crucible - teenager Moody qualifies
British teenager Stan Moody secured his place at the World Snooker Championship for the first time, a day after discharging himself from hospital. Moody, 19, had been struggling with tonsillitis but managed to beat China's Jiang Jun 10-9 on Tuesday, with a break of 104 in the deciding frame to qualify for the Crucible. "I was in hospital yesterday," said Moody.
"They said 'we know you're going to say no, but we want you to stay in', but I said 'no, I have a match to play tomorrow', so it was never really in question. "I've been given a load of antibiotics so I'm on the mend. I couldn't talk yesterday or eat or drink, so I've come a long way.
They said if it gets worse, come back. "I'm normally good under pressure but in that last frame I've never felt pressure so much in my life, I'm so happy. " Yorkshireman Moody, who hails from Halifax, will become the first British teenager to make his Crucible debut since a 17-year-old Judd Trump in 2007.
Moody will not be the only young player from Yorkshire making his debut in Sheffield as 20-year-old Liam Pullen from York also booked his place, beating Thailand's Noppon Saengkham 10-8. Pullen had earlier been on course for a maximum 147, but after potting 14 reds he missed the 14th black, with the break ending on 105. If he had made a 147 he would have earned £147,000 - for making two maximums across the major events in one season - something China's Chang Bingyu did on Monday after his 147 in his loss to former world champion Luca Brecel.
"It is a bit of a shame about the max," said Pullen, who had to win four matches to qualify. "I'm very proud I'm still in the tournament and I'm going to go to the Crucible and try my best. " Matthew Stevens lost to Mark Williams in the 2000 World Snooker Championship final, then was defeated by Shaun Murphy five years later Former world champion Stuart Bingham failed to qualify as he lost 10-7 against two-time runner-up Matthew Stevens.