Superb Ng Tops Table
Ng On Yee became the first woman to reach the last 32 of a ranking event as she finished top of the table in a tough group at the BetVictor Championship League to progress to the second phase.
Three-time World Women’s Champion Ng, who is back on the pro tour this season after a two-year absence, was unbeaten in her three matches in Group 32 and goes through to the next phase later this month.
And Ng’s success continues a fine start to the season for the tour’s women contingent as Reanne Evans won both of her qualifying matches last week while Bai Yulu also earned a place at the British Open.
Hong Kong’s Ng started the day with a 2-2 draw against Daniel Wells, making breaks of 57 and 53, then drew 2-2 again with He Guoqiang. In her last match of the group she beat Leone Crowley 3-0 to go top of the table with five points. He needed only a draw in his last match against Wells, while world number 44 Wells could also get through with a 3-0 victory, but as it turned out he won 3-1, which left him just behind Ng on frame difference.
Zhang Anda, one of the highest ranked players in the tournament at world number 12, safely negotiated Group 2. He started with a 3-1 win over George Pragnell, then made a 107 in drawing 2-2 with Chris Totten, before another 2-2 draw against Ka Wai Cheung, taking the fourth frame on the final black. That left China’s Zhang with five points, one ahead of Pragnell.
The action in Leicester continues on Saturday as the likes of Stuart Bingham, Antoni Kowalski, Elliot Slessor and Stan Moody enter the fray.
