O'Brien through to World Championship

Ireland's Fergal O'Brien beat Scot Alan McManus for the first time in his career in the final round of qualifying for the betfred.com World Championship, winning 10-4.

O'Brien failed in qualifying last year and said: ‘It feels amazing. It's horrific to miss out. This match is just horrible.’

He won eight frames in a row from 4-2 down and admitted the tension among the players was obvious.

O'Brien explained: ‘You literally go from thinking if you lose you're thinking about packing the game in, to winning and thinking, 'Hey, I could go all the way.'

‘At certain times here and even in the hotel there's nearly a stench of death in the place.’

Steve Davis, 52, beat Adrian Gunnell 10-4 at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport to earn a place in Thursday's first-round draw.