Former world number nine Fergal O'Brien will have to pre-qualify for next season's major events after losing 5-1 to Englishman Sean Storey in the Regal Scottish Open. O'Brien, who has lost his last six matches of the current campaign, is certain to drop out of the top 32 in the world rankings.
"I'll have to go back to the drawing board and see if I can come back stronger", said the Dublliner, who was 30th in the provisional standings before the start of the tournament, having not qualified for the final stages of this month's Embassy World Championship.
His opponent Storey, the world number 82, has won 27 matches this season and is undefeated since the January qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Rory McLeod set up a dream meeting with his idol by beating Malta's Tony Drago 5-3 in the first round of the £597,200 Regal Scottish Open in Edinburgh. McLeod, ranked 88th in the world, faces perennial crowd pleaser Jimmy White for a place in the last 16.
The 32-year-old McLoed cannot wait for Tuesday afternoon. "It will be the biggest match of my career", he said. "I have never played in front of such a big crowd before but hopefully 2% will be on my side. I believe you can beat anybody on your day. It's just a case of being prepared and making sure I'm on my game.
McLeod led 2-0 before Drago hit back with a break of 119 and took a 3-2 advantage. But McLeod won the last three frames to reach the last 32 of a world ranking event for only the second time in his career.
Filed by Barry J. Whyte
